Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 71

Serial Number: 32689

Year of Manufacture: 1951

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 beaded blade dovetailed to a textured, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel and slotted for a hood (none present). The rear sight dovetail has been filled with a blank. The left-rear of the receiver is drilled, tapped and installed with a Lyman 56 receiver sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece checkered walnut with a capped pistol grip, fluted straight comb, semi-beavertail forend with steel cap, and checkered steel buttplate. There is a sling plate inlet to the belly and a sling mount dovetailed to the bottom of the forend cap. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a preliminary chip in the right side of the wrist in the top corner of the receiver. There is a short hairline crack on the right side of the forend at the cap. The LOP measures 13 1/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear with well defined checkering. The plate has minor wear with well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine Plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light thinning on the leading edges. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to faintly 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 used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 71 Deluxe rifle made in 1951. 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.

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 nice Deluxe example retains a great bore and strong mechanics. It would make for a nice shooter or addition to a collection.