I think Beuhler made a mount as well. Friend of mine had a nice old 54, rebarreled it to 338-06 if memory serves. They are a good rifle, but there isn't much collector interest, certainly not up here. - dan
Winchester Model 54 question
- Thread starter jacky
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The research I did stated that many of them had custom mounts and scope put on them after the fact and that reduces the collector appeal. Noel do you know if they ever came factory drilled to accept a scope ? I read that they came with factory open sights and some came with a factory peep sight, but were not intended to accept a scope ? Mine has screws in the front that were drilled at the factory but I don't know if these were intended for scope mounts, especially in 1927.
Mark
Mark
The front holes are factory as are the two on the side on the rear bridge. As you can see with your bolt handle in open position it does not make scope mounting easy. Some are recessed like mine is but I don't know when that transition came about. This is my first 54 and have only had it four months I think.
RGV I'm trying to send you a pm but your box is full. Please give me a shout.
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RGV I'm trying to send you a pm but your box is full. Please give me a shout.
Thanks!
The 'problem' with 54's and scopes is the bolt handle is quite high and the stock comb is low... so a scope has to be mounted fairly high if you don't want to cut and weld the bolt lower (quite a job to do nicely) and your face isn't close to the wood...
Keep those nice old examples with iron sights...
Keep those nice old examples with iron sights...
If you look closely at Noel's gun you'll notice the bolt has had the scope conversion. . Jacky's gun has not. . The top of the bolt handle, where it makes the 90 degree bend towards the bolt itself, needs to be curved so it clears the scope tube. . It curves up against the scope tube. . This is quite a job and needs to be done professionly. . The safety works just fine and fits in there curved up against the scope in safe position. .Problem with setting the scope high enough to clear the existing bolt is your face is too far off the stock.. Looks like hell as well. . Whoever did Noel's gun did an excellent job.
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IIRC Jack O'Connor said the flaws with the 54 was the trigger being used as a bolt stop and the lack of escape routes for gas in the event of case failure. Going from memory, he said that if you sent the rifle back, Winchester would modify the action by drilling some holes to alleviate the latter problem.
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Just sell it to me and then you wont have to worry about it anymore.
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Hopefully it was cheap, cause its all messed up...
There's an article on the Winchester Model 54 in "The American Rifleman" a few years back that I read over about 50 times. . It's very imformative and describes all the running changes, upgrades and the transition to the Model 70. . The time frame on the early M54's was when Winchester was running into receivership and the Olin Family (Western Cartridge Company) was taking Winchester over. . Winchester new the M54 had a few defiencies but was not financially able to correct them . When Olin took over Winchester, these issues were addressed. . The triggers were upgraded and called the 'new speed lock" and the gas issue was also addressed by drilling a hole in the front of the receiver to allow gas to escape if case ruptured.. . You could send your early M54 back to the factory and Winchester would correct these issues. .
The later M54's were used in the development of the new up and coming Model 70 . . The last few years brought out the "NRA" stock, that continued on with the Model 70. . The bolt handles were changed making them scope friendly. Many early Model 54's were returned to the Winchester factory for the latest upgrades as they occurred during production. . The bolt on Noel's gun as well as the gas escape hole drilled in the receiver and improved trigger would be my thoughts on where these upgrades were done . . These upgrades were common, in the day, and is something to be thankful for and improves the value rather than take away from it. . Can you imagine getting Winchester to do these upgrades now. .
The later M54's were used in the development of the new up and coming Model 70 . . The last few years brought out the "NRA" stock, that continued on with the Model 70. . The bolt handles were changed making them scope friendly. Many early Model 54's were returned to the Winchester factory for the latest upgrades as they occurred during production. . The bolt on Noel's gun as well as the gas escape hole drilled in the receiver and improved trigger would be my thoughts on where these upgrades were done . . These upgrades were common, in the day, and is something to be thankful for and improves the value rather than take away from it. . Can you imagine getting Winchester to do these upgrades now. .
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Rod that is very interesting. I did not know any of that. I did read that there are very few unmodified M54's around. I was sure mine was unmodified but I did not notice the bolt on Noel's gun. I wonder if Noel contacted Winchester, they would have a record of the work done. I know that old English companies like Holland and Holland have records dating back a very long time ago.
No I hadn't contacted WW as I had thought other than the additional tapped hole and the extra checkered patch it was original. I spose if I did contact them it would resolve whether they modded the handle or otherwise.
with so many knowledgeable people on here I wonder if could ask a few questions about my model 54 it's serial #is 1871x and it has a stainless steel barrel in .30govt'06 the barrel has what looks to be a paint of some kind on it that is worn off in many spots was it common for them to have stainless barrels in those days
