S&L rifle info

[snomad]

I recently acquired this rifle from an older gent (relative of a relative). He bought it 57 years ago. It had a Denver built Redfield 3-9 Accutrac on it that is into Trace right now. The Leupold rings on it I have never seen before. I believe the original caliber was 7X61 S&H. It was rechambered to 7mm Rem Mag long ago due to the lack of factory ammo for the 7X61. It is a beaut but has been hunted in the past. Looks like a couple of cracks in the forearm that appear to have been there a long time. I think this rifle has been a safe queen for over 25 years. The only thing on the receiver as far as a model number is M60. Any info and potential values with or without the scope would be appreciated. The gent told me it was a $2k gun when he bought it. I am so tempted to keep it....here's a couple of pics.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I recently acquired this rifle from an older gent (relative of a relative). He bought it 57 years ago. It had a Denver built Redfield 3-9 Accutrac on it that is into Trace right now. The Leupold rings on it I have never seen before. I believe the original caliber was 7X61 S&H. It was rechambered to 7mm Rem Mag long ago due to the lack of factory ammo for the 7X61. It is a beaut but has been hunted in the past. Looks like a couple of cracks in the forearm that appear to have been there a long time. I think this rifle has been a safe queen for over 25 years. The only thing on the receiver as far as a model number is M60. Any info and potential values with or without the scope would be appreciated. The gent told me it was a $2k gun when he bought it. I am so tempted to keep it....here's a couple of pics.

While being rechambered may enhance its use as a hunting rifle, I think that alteration would tend to decrease the value to a collector, as does the present condition of the stock. The model is a little earlier example of the three I have.



A;
- Model 68DL in 7x61S&H
- Model 65DL in 308NM
- Model 68DL in 358NM
As is, without the scope, I would give a very rough guess at the value to be about $800.oo - $1,000.oo. Do you have a close up photo of the cracks in the stock?
There's a gentleman on site that is a collector of S&L rifles that you could PM for a more accurate value estimate. On this site, he goes by dwh44. Give him a shout.

 

[snomad]

Thanks for the info. I will edit the post with a couple more pics shortly.

 

[snomad]

Extra pics are up.

 

[H4831]

In 1958, which is 57 years ago, those rifles retailed in the gun and sporting goods stores for about $160.
They have a beautiful smooth action, good trigger, nice stock and were very accurate.
However, the action caused a lot of trouble. When they came out the only available ammunition was Norma; great ammunition, but it was loaded HOT in 7x61. Some rifles in 7x61 calibre worked excellent and the owners swore by them, while owners of similar rifles swore at them, because other rifles would stick the bolts with factory ammo, so tight that a good swat with a wooden block was required on the bolt handle, to open the bolt.
Consensus of opinion, even from factory representatives, was that the locking lugs being at the rear of the bolt allowed the bolt to contract under the heavy loaded ammo, then spring ahead and lock up the bolt.
Later, Norma lightened up the loadings of both the 7x61 and the 8mm Norma Magnum, as that calibre also sometimes locked up in the Schultz and Larsen rifles.
Regarding value, I don't know whether rechambering to 7mm Remington Magnum would be a plus or a minus. It has no collector value left, but easier to obtain ammunition.
The cracks in the stock and the worn bluing on the barrel certainly deteriorate from the value.
Any figure I give would be a rough guess, but based on other S&L 7x61 rifles that come on the EE, I would say about $600 for yours, with no scope.

 

[guntech]

It's a shooter... and I would guess about a 600 to 800 dollar rifle to sell... I sold an unaltered 7 x 61 this year for about 750 if I remember correctly.

Looking back at this I have to say my $800 figure is high... I don't think you could get 800 with that stock damage... and it's the plain stock to boot.

$500 to $600 is more accurate I think.

Now if it was a clean original S & L with the deluxe stock $1000 and up is reasonable.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Some good input from some knowledge people here. It appears I was a tad high in my 'guestimate'. This may be due to the S&L being my favorite bolt action rifle, That plus the fact I also tend to favour some of the calibres that are 'off of the beaten path'.

 

[Baribal]

Take some time to read Stuart Otteson's "The Bolt Action Rifle Volume II" by Wolfe Publishing, and Frank de Haas "Bolt ActionRifles" they have all the facts straight and very good descriptions of the S&L actions.

 

[kamlooky]

Poor gal has run a tough life.
I think $800 would be stretching it, but you never know.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Take some time to read Stuart Otteson's "The Bolt Action Rifle Volume II" by Wolfe Publishing, and Frank de Haas "Bolt ActionRifles" they have all the facts straight and very good descriptions of the S&L actions.

You beat me to it Baribal.
Bolt Action Rifles
Expanded 4th Edition
- By Frank de Haas and Dr. Wayne van Zwoll
I have it and it's a very good source of info on many of the various makes of bolt action rifles.