bjake . . the stainless barrel was available in1926 for additional charge of $8. . Your M54 is from late 1928.
The first 40 pages of Roger Rules book "The Rifleman's Rifle" (Model 70) is entirely on the Model 54. . The Model 54 is basically the forerunner to the Model 70. . I glanced at it briefly, after supper, and never paid that much attention before but the M54, during it's production life, had a tremendous number of running changes. . Not only design changes but material changes as well. These changes and improvements really started to take effect when Olin Industries took over in the 1931. . John Olin soon realized the valuable resource he had with Winchester's designer, T.C. Johnson. . John Olin gave the green light to Winchester having the best bolt action rifle available and running changes started rolling. . Some of the best Winchesters were built under the control of John Olin. . The Model 21 is just one example, and of course the Model 70.
On page 34, at the top, it shows two M54's with a bolt similar to Noel's. . Also, on page 27 left side of page, Rule states:
(quote); " Besides these chronological changes, many rifles out of sequence are known with the speed lock or gas ported improvements. The explanation for this is that any rifle sold without one or both of these features could be returned to the factory and modified for a relatively small charge. This was publicily announced through Winchester literature as well as outside articles. As an example in . . The American Rifleman . . March 1937 issue, on page 49, there was a small note that older Model 54's should be returned to the factory to modernize the bolt and receiver to include gas port and gas escape holes as was as installing a striker-stop screw.
This accounts for modifications found on many early rifles , improved some time after their original manufacture. Another common source of confusion is the occurrence of the Model 70 breech bolts , breech bolt sleeves and safeties on Model 54's. In the 1940's when rifles were returned to the factory for speed locks and/or gas port improvements, Model 70 parts were sometimes adapted and substituted in cases where inventories of Model 54 components had been depleted." (quote)
. .
The first 40 pages of Roger Rules book "The Rifleman's Rifle" (Model 70) is entirely on the Model 54. . The Model 54 is basically the forerunner to the Model 70. . I glanced at it briefly, after supper, and never paid that much attention before but the M54, during it's production life, had a tremendous number of running changes. . Not only design changes but material changes as well. These changes and improvements really started to take effect when Olin Industries took over in the 1931. . John Olin soon realized the valuable resource he had with Winchester's designer, T.C. Johnson. . John Olin gave the green light to Winchester having the best bolt action rifle available and running changes started rolling. . Some of the best Winchesters were built under the control of John Olin. . The Model 21 is just one example, and of course the Model 70.
On page 34, at the top, it shows two M54's with a bolt similar to Noel's. . Also, on page 27 left side of page, Rule states:
(quote); " Besides these chronological changes, many rifles out of sequence are known with the speed lock or gas ported improvements. The explanation for this is that any rifle sold without one or both of these features could be returned to the factory and modified for a relatively small charge. This was publicily announced through Winchester literature as well as outside articles. As an example in . . The American Rifleman . . March 1937 issue, on page 49, there was a small note that older Model 54's should be returned to the factory to modernize the bolt and receiver to include gas port and gas escape holes as was as installing a striker-stop screw.
This accounts for modifications found on many early rifles , improved some time after their original manufacture. Another common source of confusion is the occurrence of the Model 70 breech bolts , breech bolt sleeves and safeties on Model 54's. In the 1940's when rifles were returned to the factory for speed locks and/or gas port improvements, Model 70 parts were sometimes adapted and substituted in cases where inventories of Model 54 components had been depleted." (quote)
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