looking for info on Winchester Model 54 30.06

[Guest dansturn]

Hi, newbie here but heard about site from good friend in north TN. Thought I could get info on special rifle my Father picked up many years ago. It's a Winchester Model 54 Marked Winchester Nickel Steel 30Gov't06. Made in USA.

Anything you can add will be appreciated.

Thank you

D

[gregintenn]

The model 54 is a precursor to the famed model 70 Winchester. If it is in good, unaltered condition, it will be a quite collectable piece. What, in particular, are you wanting to know about it?

We really like pictures around here.

Welcome to the forum.

Edited September 21, 2012 by gregintenn

[dlm37015]

the date it was made is stamped on the barrel under the stock. you can look it up on winchexter dates of manf.com

you can get a factory letter from the winchester museum

[Guest dansturn]

Thanks for the response.. I'm going to try for pictures in the morning and will post -- I'm just looking for any and all the info

I can get. I guess the best part is the "history" that I do know --- During WWII my father worked for Curtis Wright making P40's etc. with 5 young kids he drove a cab for additional food money. One day he was in a store trying to find a rifle for deer hunting. While he was talking to the clerk, who explained that there was NOTHING available anywhere with the war on, a young guy came in and asked for a .22 saying the only thing he could find was a "big gun" at a pawn shop down the block. Well my father left and went to the pawn shop where they had this 30.06 for $20. All my father had was $5 which the broker said would hold the gun until my Dad got back with the rest. He drove home tapped the cookie jar for the balance. When he got back the shop owner said he was really surprise because the gun was on the shelf for a year with no interest and today a young guy came in and let and later came back for the gun. Also a clerk for the Sears store up the block also came in to buy the gun. Well my Dad hunted with this gun and shot quite a few deer over the years. He passed away last year at 91 and I inherited the rifle. I've cleaned it up but have a 357 carbine that I like to hunt with, so just keep this one in the cabinet to look at with foun memories. Hope this isn't to long or boring.

[RichardR]

Nope not long or boring at all, I love to read stories like yours, many of us have similar ones ourselves & hopefully our children and grandchildren will tell ours one day.

I am looking forward to seeing pic's of your fathers Winchester.

[gregintenn]

Me too!!! Thanks for sharing the story.

[jtmaze]

I have killed more deer with my grandfather's 30-30 than my 30-06 or .308 just for the memories of hunting with granddaddy when I was a kid. Great story.

JTM

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[Guest dansturn]

Hopefully the pictures are attached again thank you all

[gregintenn]

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/windateslookup.php

According to this, yours was made in 1927. Yours has several non factory holes and some honest wear that would preclude it from being a high priced collectable. They didn't come drilled and tapped for scope bases, and I don't believe they came with sling swivel studs. Also, the 30-06 was by far the most popular chambering in a 54. It is, however, a fine piece of history, and a great high quality deer rifle. Take it out and use it for what it was made to do; kill deer! All in all, it looks pretty darned good for an 85 year old rifle. I expect it will shoot really good.

[Guest dansturn]

First I want to thank you all for allowing me into your site and all the info. I am passing the rifle and this info on to my Grandson. Secondly even though it is not a high priced collectable, I am sure he will appreciate the history, you info and the chance to hunt with a rifle even older than his Grandfather.

[gregintenn]

I would be proud to have it in my collection, as I'm sure he will be.