Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors What's wrong with this gun

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1019607551
I figured the guy didn't know his years, but the the serial number and the barrel don't fit any gun I know of.
Mike

Featherweight barrel and stock (not introduced until mid-1952) on a late 1951 receiver.
Question is if that receiver was in inventory at the factory

...Marble 69 rear sight should be on a Monte Carlo stock. Just sayin'

And if the bolt serial matches …

Seller said that there are no markings on the bolt. All mine have the serial number etched into the bolt.

Come on, you guys can tear it apart better than that. That is a pieced together rifle.

First off, that bolt is from a 1959-1963 rifle. The 1951 receiver has been modified slightly and doesn't even have the proof mark that is supposed to be in line with the one on the barrel. There's a very good chance it's been rebarreled. The stock is an original low comb, but not original to that receiver. The floor plate was not original to that rifle either. The rear sight sticks out like a sore thumb. Again, screaming pieced together. I would not trust that seller.

Pocono can correct me since he has Rule memorized better than I; but that is really early for a drilled bolt.

Read my post above. As for the bolt ovoid, a lot of the 308 fwts were not even drilled in '52. I've seen a few that had solid bolts knobs, even in 1953. There's more to the bolt that you guys are not seeing. I'll let you keep eyeballing it though. The bolt is from a '59-'63 rifle. Hence the reason someone removed the serial # etching from the bolt body.

Yep - took a better look on a bigger screen and you’re absolutely right – definitely not flat on that bolt.

Yes, we posted at the same time. I suspect it was probably a transition somewhat like the metal part plate to plastic – over a period of time.

Yes, it was definitely a transition period. None were drilled in '51 though. There are some other tell tale's of that bolt, that tell us when it was made/manufactured.

Probably what really needs to be said here is it's a pieced together rifle. The funny thing is a lot of guys/bidders don't know that. I see it as a parts gun, but with the mods I see, I would not trust it. If you like a low comb and shoot irons, that is a nice stock and worth about $450.00. The receiver not worth much to me, and the bolt would have to go with a newer rifle to be correct. This is the kind of stuff I look for when I buy a rifle. I'd rather buy a 100% original fwt barreled action in a Mcmillan, than a pieced together rifle like this one. Hopefully that answers some of the questions the op had, about "what's wrong with this gun".

Earliest FWT s/n that I’ve seen is 200,000. Anyone seen/have an earlier one?
Drilled bolts began appearing regularly on Fwts and Standard Rifles in 1954 approx s/n 280,000.
That shroud is from a much later bolt.
Wrong rear sight, the very early lc Fwt. was catalogued with either a Winchester 22K or Marbles No. 69 folding leaf rear sight. The Lyman 16A that is on this gun was not catalogued until 1955

Flattery will get you no where BSA, I readily concede that your memorization of Rule is much better than mine.

Perhaps it’s just the angle, but this gives me pause.

I like that detailed response.

You guys are great!

You have a SHARP eye!

Yours is a '53. Don't even have to look at rules to confirm serial # DOM. I've had 1 308 win fwt made in '53, and a buddy also has one that was made in '53, and they both have the solid bolt knob. However, Winchester started doing this in 1952, but they were slow to transition. Your bolt is correct for your rifle. As you can see, the face of the bolt sleeve is flat, where the rifle in question is rounded. In 1959 Winchester went thorough a few cost saving measures, and leaving the face of the bolt sleeve round was one of them. The reason I say the bolt is likely from a 1959-1963 rifle. Your rifle looks to be in very good condition, based on the few pictures I see.

99Ozarks: Plenty "wrong" with that Rifle. I would stay away from it, that seller and "gunbreaker" at all costs!
Plus the action/gun was made on April 1st (April Fool's Day) 1951.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Caveat Emptor!!!
Sold- $1925 (plus fees)

Thumb groove appears to differ from side to side, stock appears to have been altered/refinished.