Here's one of my old favorites. She is a 1953 in .257 Roberts with a 22 inch lightweight profile barrel. The strange thing is the lack of lightweight markings. I have an old Weaver 8 power scope with 1/2 mill lee dot on her.

Has the barrel been shortened? Thanks for the cool pictures sir.

As far as I can tell, no. She's 22 inches on the money with a very nice crown.

Sights have been removed?

Doesn't look to have ever had iron sights.

Special order perhaps?

Does the floor plate say super grade?

What date stamped on the barrel?

Nice gun but it might be put together from parts

Maybe, the bottom of the barrel is marked (25R 52-). That or an early featherweight?

Floor plate is plain. Barrel is marked 52. At the very least the stock has been replaced along with the magazine box. Whatever she is, she's one sweet shooter!

It's definitely unusual. I could not tell from the pics, has the receiver been reblued? The stock looks like an aftermarket as well- the profile does not look like my early 243 FW.

I don't think the receiver has been reblued, but I couldn't say 100% that is hasn't. The rifle has definitely been around the block, bought it back in 2000 in Fairbanks Alaska for the princely sum of $350. I think I walked into the gun show at the Paddy Center with $400. The guy I bought it from at a very nice .264 magnum for the same price.

Pretty neat rifle, I always thought a pre64 257 fwt would be a handy rifle.

What's it weigh?

She's a wonderful rifle to carry all day. I've never weighed her, but I would guess right around 7 1/2 lbs. Recoil is nonexistent as well.

I have day dreamed of finding a beat up pre-64 MDL 70 in .257 Roberts and creating a custom gun by shortening and fluting the barrel, swapping in a light weight stock cut and shaved to my dimensions, getting the metal reblued and refinishing the wood myself.

Barrel stamp looks correct....with no front or rear sights, my guess would be a Special Order rifle. Is that a Winchester plate?

I appears to be a standard weight barrel that has been shortened and the rear sight boss turned off. Definitely not a featherweight barrel. I have seen this kind of barrel work done several times over the years. I myself had the rear sight boss turned off and front sight removed on a 264 barrel.

Looks like it. I've thought about getting a pre64 Roberts, but wasn't really into carrying a 9lb 257. Might have to settle for a Kimber... Grin

Yep it has a steel Winchester plate.

You don't really "settle" for a Kimber:

Perhaps, but if that's the case whoever did the work was a master at his craft. His wood work was a little rougher though judging from the inletting, although not altogether bad.

Without handeling it I'm going with it being a turned down standard weight barrel. The stock is definatly after market, but it sounds like whomever did the work used the Winchester Neider butt plate on it.

In any case, you got a great deal on a great rifle.

I had the privilege to hang out with some of the great gunsmiths over the years and yes there is some amazing talent out there. Winchester would do anything for a buck prior to the 1930's but afterwards they curtailed much of their custom work. Either way you have an interesting rifle that draws much attention.

Looking closer at it makes me think it was turned down, shortened and reblued. She is a fine handling rifle though, and still one of my favorites!