Make: Winchester

Model: 71

Serial Number: 42296

Year of Manufacture: 1955

Caliber: .348 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with a two thirds length tubular magazine.

Barrel Length: 24” Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, textured, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The left side of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled for sight options. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a semi-beavertail forend with steel cap, semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, and checkered steel buttplate. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs, and compressions. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has minor wear with well defined checkering. The wood sits “proud” to the metal. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine Condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. The finish is lightly thinning at some edges. There are a few scattered light marks. The action shows minor operational wear, most evident on the hammer. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Excellent Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever lock-up is tight. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 71 was introduced in 1935 and continued the lineage of the John Browning designed Model 1886, but in a mechanically strengthened rifle chambered for the new, powerful .348 Winchester Center Fire cartridge. This was the only chambering of the Model 71, and .348 WCF was in fact developed specifically for this rifle. The cartridge is ideal for North American big game hunting in brush where shorter shots are taken, and with modern projectiles such as Hornady’s Lever-evolution, the round can now perform admirably at longer ranges as well. The Model 71 incorporated a pistol grip, shorter magazine tube, and a round barrel (in only two lengths, 24” or 20”), and a bit over 47,000 were built over its production run from 1935-1957.

This Winchester Model 71 Lever Action Rifle was made in 1955, fairly late in production, and is in Excellent Condition. It features a 24” barrel, 98% of its crisp, original blued finish, gorgeous two-piece smooth walnut stocks with a semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, and checkered steel buttplate, clear markings, strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. This is a stunningly beautiful Winchester Model 71 Lever Action Rifle, and would be a welcome addition to any collection.