Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 71 Deluxe
Serial Number: 10660
Year of Manufacture: 1937
Caliber: .348 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)
Action Type: Lever Action Rifle fed by a two thirds length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 24" Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, textured, and ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. There is a dovetail at the rear of the barrel currently filled with a blank. The top of the bolt is cut for an included Winchester 98-A peep sight, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a capped pistol grip, fluted comb, semi-beavertail forend with steel cap, and checkered steel shotgun-style buttplate. There is a sling mount screwed 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 general light handling wear with scattered nicks and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate is mostly worn to white, with finish remaining in the cuts of the checkering, and some scattered minor surface oxidation. The checkering is well defined. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion and some stubborn copper fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is light handling wear on the bottom and front of the receiver. There are some scattered minor nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever lock-up is tight and the trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the installed Winchester Super Grade QD swivels.
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 powerful .348 Winchester. This was the only chambering of the Model 71, and 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 well 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 22 year production run from 1935-1957.
This Winchester Model 71 Deluxe Rifle was made in 1937, fairly early in production, and remains in Very Good Plus condition. It’s chambered in .348 Winchester, and features a 24” barrel, 90% of its original blued finish, elegant deluxe checkered walnut stocks, a capped pistol grip, a Winchester 98-A peep sight, a set of Winchester Super Grade QD swivels, strong mechanics, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling. This is a wonderful example of a pre-war deluxe Winchester Model 71 Rifle.
RIFLE