Make: Winchester
Model: 54 NRA Standard
Serial Number: 36397A. 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: 1931
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield (.30 Gov’t ’06)
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Box Magazine
Barrel Length: 24” 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 GOV’T 06.” 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 beaded brass blade pinned in a slotted base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight base on the barrel has a factory-installed filler in the dovetail. The left rear of the receiver has a factory installed adjustable Lyman aperture attached to it by screws.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stock is one-piece checkered walnut with a pistol grip, fluted straight comb, sling loops at the front and rear, and a checkered metal buttplate. The wood shows a few compression and handling marks. The LOP measures 13 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows light wear and a small amount of light discoloration. Overall, the stock is in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original. The barrel and bottom metal have been treated with cold blue.
Bore Condition: The muzzle and grooves are semi-bright. The rifling is deep. There is fouling and light erosion in the grooves. The fouling should clean up some. Our gauge shows an M.E. of 0.0. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 93% of its metal finish. The barrel and bottom metal have been treated with cold blue. The metal shows light handling marks. The barrel shows small scrapes and light discoloration from oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads show light use. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good Plus to Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. The rifle has a three-position safety: 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 rifle to be fired.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: This rifle comes with a brass plaque extolling the features of this particular Model 54, as well as the manufacturing history of the model.
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 NRA Standard Rifle iteration of the Model 54 was introduced in 1931, and featured a select-grade walnut stock with checkering, Lyman 48W aperture sight attached to its receiver, and a checkered steel buttplate. This example was made in 1931, remains in Very Good Plus to Fine condition, and sports a 24” barrel chambered in .30-06, one of the most popular deer hunting cartridges in America. This is a beautiful old Depression-era Winchester Model 54.
RIFLE