Well I thankfully bowed out on that one on gunbroker, but I found this one and had to figure out if I could swing it. Thankfully the seller takes layaway and agreed to my price offer.
I found one that may not be in quite as nice of shape, but has some gorgeously figured wood on it, and comes with the bonus of 15 boxes of 348 ammo, a mixture of old winchester, new winchester, and browning ammo. It is a 1936 model, the seller said to his knowledge it is and looks original. The expert on M71s on winchester collectors believes the wood to be original as there are early long tang 71s with similar upgraded wood and finish. It has a few scratches on the bluing so it isn't mint, but it appears to be a gorgeous rifle. The current owner used it to hunt leopards in Zimbabwe, that is a new use for the 71. Who knows, at some point I may send it off to Turnbull to reblue...but probably not. It is a long tang model with the bolt peep sight I dearly love and is serial number 8815. This gives me number 5 when I get it paid off. Did I mention some of the ammo boxes are 250 grain silvertips?
Sir you did good on that deal. If it were mine I wouldn't change a thing with Mr. Turnbull. The rifle speaks for itself and 15 boxes of ammo is a huge plus. Hunt with it and enjoy it. I can tell you that you won't have to drag a deer shot with it.
The figure in the wood isn't necessarily the problem. It's the finish, the color is off and the pores are overfilled. The checkering also looks off and lighter colored, I think the points looks different. And from one of the pics I didn't like the wood to metal fit on the buttplate. Photos were small and poor quality though. THe overall wood doesn't match the metal condition.
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
I think the metal finish if original. The wood is pretty questionable but it is beautiful. I'd bet that someone splurged on 3X upgrade at some point in its life. If original, I'd think that the lower tang would have numbers that were matched on the buttplate and in the upper tang area of the wood. The area under the buttplate and tangs should show age, too.
As far as Turnbull, that will cost you money when you have it done and again if you ever decide to sell it.
