Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 71 Deluxe

Serial Number: 12532

Year of Manufacture: 1937

Caliber: .348 Winchester

Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a two thirds length tubular magazine.

Barrel Length: 24"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, textured, ramped, base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece checkered walnut with a capped pistol grip, straight comb, capped semi-beavertail forend, and checkered steel buttplate. There is a sling mount inlet to the belly near the toe and another dovetailed to the nosecap, each with a Winchester Super-Grade QD swivel installed. This rifle has the longer tang and shorter comb of early production models. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are cracks and finish loss around the rear edge of the butt. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered light oxidation and well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered minor erosion and some stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is in the receiver, lever and magazine cap. The magazine cap is worn to white. The receiver is worn to white on the bottom with some other scattered wear and evenly scattered light oxidation. The lever has mostly gone to a light patina with handling wear inside the loop. There are a few light nicks and small scratches. The action shows operational wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a leather sling.

Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 71 Deluxe rifle made in 1937, fairly early in production. The Model 71 was a continuation of the 1886 design, with a pistol grip, shorter magazine tube and round barrel, produced in only two variants, 24" and 20". This rifle is chambered in .348 WCF, the only cartridge the 71 was ever chambered for besides experimental models, and which was actually developed just for this model. The cartridge is great for North American big game hunting in brush where shorter shots are taken and with modern projectiles such as Hornady's Lever-evolution can now perform well at longer ranges, as well.

This rifle is in Very Good condition, showing wear consistent with its age and use in the field. Despite its age, it retains a decent bore, strong mechanics and comes equipped with a set of Super Grade QD sling swivels. All of the Winchester rifles made before 1964 are prized by shooters and collectors alike, but the Model 71 was produced for 22 years, a relatively short production life for a Winchester, with fewer than 50,000 rifles made altogether. A model 71 in any condition will likely bring a lot of interest from the Winchester collectors and this early Deluxe is a neat example of the model. It will make a great addition to a Winchester collection, but would also probably serve well in the field for another lifetime. Please see our photos and good luck!