some time ago i inherited my grandfathers model 53.Ive been told this is a bit of a rare bird since its stainless steel as apposed to nickle steel.the rifles in great shape with its original peep site fully intact.my grand father ordered this new from the factory in 1926,and form the little info Ive obtained that's why its stainless, as it wasn't a common option in those days. i cant seem to find a good resource on value of this gun or rarity.any thoughts?
Would it be possible to post photos of the markings on the barrel?? Like you mentioned, stainless steel in a non standard caliber (.25-20 WCF yes, .25-20 SS no) would be a double rarity.
Littlebuf: Are you saying the "barrel" is stainless steel or more of the Rifle is stainless steel? I am not much up on Model 53's so am hoping to learn from your posting/input! I "think" the Model 53's were only offered in 44/40 and 25/20 calibers? Also this, is the peep sight on the tang of your Rifle? Good luck in establishing the value and rarity of your Model 53. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
ya ,i might have had a brain cramp, got to thinking about it and i dont think the 53,s or 65's were offered in 38-40. i know i don't own any in that caliber. Don
Loggah: For clarification I got out some of my Winchester reference books and indeed it seems the Model 53 Winchesters were never offered in caliber 38-40! Just in calibers 25-20, 32-20 and 44-40. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
mines a 25-20 and the whole thing is stainless. i'll have to pull it out of the safe and get some pics. we just got our power back up here in western washington
pics.if some one wants to post them so they show up in the post that would be fine with me.i can never get that to work. 4 digit serial number.looked it up and it was 1926.may be hard to see but the last photo shows its a take down model
What I can't see from your photos littlebuf is any proof marks on the top of the barrel next to the receiver. A "WP" in an oval is factory installed barrel but if it has a "P" in an oval either by itself or in conjunction with the "WP" then it is a mail order replacement barrel.
Also, the "Winchester" stamp on your barrel is italicised which is indictative of a later version. However, it was sometime around the time period your rifle was made that Winchester switched over from the block lettered "Winchester" to the italicised version. I want to say the transition took place in the early 30's but I honestly can't remember.
The whole point is trying to establish whether your barrel is original to the rifle or if it is a replacement. Either way you have a nice old gun.
there is a proof mark on the top of the barrel with a matching one right next to it on the receiver.i will pull it back out and look at it/get a pic so you can see what it is
very well could be. i dont know a lot about these rifles.it does look however that the bluing came off the receiver in the same fashion/pattern its come off the barrel.i was told one of the reasons Winchester didnt make many SS guns in those days was because it didint hold a bluing.
very well could be. i dont know a lot about these rifles.it does look however that the bluing came off the receiver in the same fashion/pattern its come off the barrel.i was told one of the reasons Winchester didnt make many SS guns in those days was because it didint hold a bluing.
Stainless was an option for barrels on some guns, .220 swifts predominantly had stainless barrels. Stainless Winchester barrels were usually iron plated and then blued.
I have A MODEL 53 IN 25-20 Its blued the model 53 is a take down rifle. At the end of the magazine tube there is a blade like lever that allows the mag to be unthreaded. Then holding the reciever with one hand and the fore stock with the other twist in the opposite directions and the gun splits into two pcs. I too am interested in finding the value of my rifle. It has no sentimental value to me. It was split off a collection a friend of mine purchased. never heard of a s.s. version but i believe there were only 25,000 produced in the mid to late twenties
