Make: Winchester
Model: 54 Carbine
Serial Number: 21082A. The “A” suffix in the serial number denotes a design/production change by Winchester during the manufacturing process of the Model 54.
Year of Manufacture: 1929
Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Box Magazine
Barrel Length: 20” Round
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked "MODEL 54- WINCHESTER-NICKEL STEEL- / -TRADE MARK-" in front of the rear sight boss and ".30 W.C.F." at the rear. The left of the barrel at the chamber is also marked with a "WP" in oval proof found again on the left of the receiver's chamber ring. The left of the receiver is marked "WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK-". The right of the chamber ring is marked with the serial number. The right side of the barrel is marked "MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. PATENTS APPLIED FOR".
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade pinned to a slotted base integral to the front of the barrel. There is a boss at the rear of the barrel with a dovetailed express sight. The rear-left of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled in two places. The top of the chamber ring has two drilled, tapped, and filled holes.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece smooth walnut with a finger groove forend, pistol grip, straight comb, sling loops at the front and rear, and a serrated steel buttplate. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs, scratches, and minor compressions. There is some wear around the rear edge of the stock. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 3/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows some scattered pitting and discoloration. Overall, the stock is in about Very Good Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bore, namely in the grooves. Our gauge shows an ME of about 0.4. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is also some notable finish loss on the barrel near the muzzle. There are scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. The floorplate shows some light surface oxidation. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this carbine is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this carbine. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. The carbine has a three-position safety similar to the M-1903: all the way to the left locks the bolt and disables the trigger; straight up disables the trigger but the bolt is free to move; to the right enables the carbine to be fired.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 54 was the company's first successful bolt-action rifle, and laid the groundwork for the famed Model 70. It had a fairly short production run, with about 50,000 made from 1925-1936. The carbine iteration of the Model 54 was introduced in 1927. This example was made in 1929, remains in Very Good condition, and sports a 20” barrel chambered in .30-30 WCF. That round is one of, if not the most, popular deer hunting cartridges in America, though most associate it with lever-action rifles instead of bolt guns. This carbine features 85% of its original finish, a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling, and strong mechanics. This is a beautiful old Depression-era Winchester Model 54 carbine, ready for another lifetime's worth of use in the field or on the range.
RIFLE