Value of a Winchester Model 54

Jameson

Jameson

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Hello everyone,

I have a Winchester model 54 .30-06 and was wondering if any fellow gunnutz could give me some insight as to what it might be worth and if it would have any collector value. I know that the model 54 was somewhat unpopular because it was difficult to mount a scope on. That being said this one does happen to have a small scope mounted on it and it looks like the receiver has been drilled to attach the scope base. I don't have much experience on judging the bore but it looks to be in good shape. Overall the gun looks to be in good shape. It has nickel steel stamped on the barrel, so would this gun have been blued from the factory? If so it looks like most has worn off.

Some of the other info I have for this firearm is: I was told it was manufactured in 1926. It has a 4 digit serial number. The scope has no markings other than a very small inscription on the top that says R. Noske.
It seems to shoot well, although I have only put about 40 rounds through it in the time that I've owned it.

I have attached some pics thanks for looking and thanks for any insight!

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Very nice, I have the same rifle in .270, but no scope. Unlike yours the wood looks like it spent much of its time in the bottom of a wet canoe.

The blue book value of these rifles runs from $500 to $1150, although I'm not sure your would get that much in the Canadian market. The Noske scope is period correct although I can't vouch for the mount, and should increase the value of the package. I'd say your rifle's value is in the $1000 range.

I think when Winchester brought out the M-70 they should have kept a couple of the M-54's two stage trigger. Clearly the M-70's hinged floorplate, pre-monte-carlo stock, and excellent adjustable trigger (even if it was a single stage) were marked improvements, but the M-54 remains an excellent, if dated, rifle.
 
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Good evening,

Thanks for the great feedback so far! The reason i figured it was an unpopular rifle was because I was contemplating trading it a few years ago at a gun show and the fellow I was dealing with told me that they were unpopular rifles because of the scope issue and it wasn't worth more than a couple hundred bucks. Needless to say I didn't trade it, but i figured he was right when he said they were unpopular because I've never seen another one around at any shows or anything. I'm glad to hear they are more popular than I thought!
 
The mounts look to be a vintage Redfield set; can't make out what is written on the base just above the rifle's serial number. Maybe not quite the same age as the rifle, but certainly in keeping. The eye relief of the scope would seem to avoid any issues with the original bolt handle.
I have a very similar scope mounted in a Noske side mount on a Savage Model 1920 .250-3000.
 
Thanks everyone for the comments on my rifle. I'm now trying to decide if I should hang on to it or sell it, I could definitely use the room in my safe and the cash to cover some recent "new additions". Although there is something alluring about an old Winchester....... Oh decisions, decisions!!
 
"Rudolph Noske who revolutionized the American hunting scope market with the development of the first internally adjustable, American-made hunting scopes."

I had one once, with a Noske side mount, something like a Griffin & Howe mount. The scope had a tapered post and very long eye relief, about six inches.

Noske went out of business in 1939. Very expensive scopes when new.

If yours has normal eye relief of 2.5 inches it is probably the "Mascot 3x" made between 1935 and 39.

Mounts are not original to the scope.

Somebody's pride and joy once.
 
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