I couldn't resist a 1927 Model 54 in '06 I ran into on the rack several days ago. I know a little about the rifle but I would love input about its quirks from folks here. Blueing is gone from the floorplate and top of barrel but no pitting at all and the bore looks good. It has been (badly) re-stocked and I will make a new stock from good wood based on the original pattern (with reduced drop at the comb for a scope.)

So. What can be done with the trigger? Two stage but breaks better than I thought it would.

It has Weaver mounts installed. Any classier way to mount my dad;s old 'K4?

Anyone know of a source for a rear leaf? The original has been removed.

Will the old girl handle modern pressures?

I got the original stock as well as the hacked together Fajen on the rifle now. The original has a schnauble foreend tip and the checkering appears to have been altered though I'm not sure. The outline is very deep and maybe a sixteenth wide while the checkering itself is so shallow and worn that you can barely feel it. Any ideas?

Any significant collector value or should I just restore it functionally.

Any other warnings or accolades? It seems to shoot quite well but does copper foul quickly.

Thanks!

[ 10-07-2003, 08:24: Message edited by: snowcat ]

One of the best shooting rifles I own. I have a 1930's version and two barrels, both in 'o6. I had one opened up to 30-338 which I shoot at near max. It will hold up well. I guess there is a problem with the lack of correct gas venting but I have not experienced that. Mine also has a very slight snabble on the original stock. I recut the checkering by carefully following the lines already there. I am not very good but the finish looks great. I did have to use low rings to keep the Leu 2x7 scope low enough to shoot comfortably. I have thought about adding a lace-on leather cheekpiece to make it safer to shoot. At 30-338 it really pops you a good one if you creep on the stock. Enjoy it.
I think I paid around $300 for mine and feel lucky to have it. I don't know about collecting. All my firearms are shooters including my colts, brownings, drillings and BB guns.
Frank

[ 10-07-2003, 10:26: Message edited by: Frank Martinez ]

The M54 was the forerunner of the M70.

There are two styles of bolts and triggers and extractors, slow lock and speed lock. Unless you know where to look and compare them you won't be able to tell them apart.

The factory would replace them in these older guns quite often.

The tigger can be replaced with a M70 by adding shims to the side since the sear is wideron the 54. HOWEVER you now lost your bolt stop, most people then modify the recever and put on a Ruger M77 bolt stop. This requires a mill to cut the hole and drill and tap one hole. It is possible to remachine it for the pre 64 bolt stop as well but it is a lot harder to do because of the steel being so tough.

The safety can be changed to a M70 stlye using those parts and modifing the firing pin.

You can also redrill and tap a new 1/4" x 32 front guard screw and use M70 bottom metal as well.

James Wisner

Frank-
Good to hear from you (I'm about through those ACP hulls). Thanks for the vote of confidence in the rifle. I knew about the gas handling problems which is what concerned me initially. I re-installed the original stock and it feels like a new rifle. Much like the later Featherweights, very trim and agile. I'm now thinking of restoring it as is. I'll mount a scope for load development and then I think I'll get plug screws for the base holes and try to track down an original peep. The stock is cut for one and the action tapped already. I downloaded a schematic of the rifle and it shows a side mount peep. Does anyone know where I could locate one? My rifle also has a "Buehler" safety, is this original? It has a Marble front leaf, how about this?

Jim, thanks for the info. I can see what you're saying about losing the bolt stop. A M-70 trigger would be, of course more functional, but I'm now leaning toward keepng things as designed. I'm very curious about the slow lock vs. speed lock bolt you mentioned. Can you explain the difference and how to tell? Would you suggest replacing the firing pin spring on a 75 yr old rifle (I noticed some cratered primers with quite moderate loads and thought a weak spring may be the culprit.) By the way, are you making extractors for the Montana actions by any chance?

I paid just under $300 for this one too. I'm still curious about how these rifles hold their value if anyone knows.

Thanks!

[ 10-08-2003, 08:00: Message edited by: snowcat ]

The Win 54 also had 3 different firing pins.

The first couple of years used a two piece system just like the 1903 Springfield.

Then they went to a one piece slow lock firing pin. These two used a cocking cam cut in the bolt just like the 1903.

The speed lock also has a one piece pin, with the cocking cam the same depth and shape as the M 70.

The M70 spring will fit the last two stlyes.

Hope this helps.

Jim Wisner

Trying to keep it as original as possible will of course maintain the higher value but I think from reading that only the target versions are really collectable.
Sorry I don't know about the original assembly and none of my books really show specifics. I have a gunsmith friend who may have "period" peeps and sights- I will check with him. He has been very good about original stuff for my Lever guns.
Glad to hear you are still using the brass. I am still clearing items out for the family. It also made me think that I should get better organized with all the accumulation I have.
Good shooting.
Frank

My Mod. 54 is factory, has a worked on trigger that breaks clean at 3 lbs. but still has the slack and thats ok as long as I know its there...

I rebarreled it, added one of Wisners screw gizzie M-70 sights to the Lothar Walther 26" 9.3x62 barrel and mounted a Leupold 2.5X Alaskan scope in Talleys, Installed a 3 pos safty that someone once made for them. Found it in Brockmans junk box of wonderfull one of a kind items...It's a plumb cute little rifle, skinny as the girl next door when you were 12 and long as a Nile croc..

I don't have a bit of trouble with the low comb stock and the scope... things like that never bother me when shooting game...I put the cross hairs on them and pull the trigger..Keep life simple and don't get caught up in rifle wiserdry...

You will be able to tell whether it is or not a speedlock by comparing the length of the striker fall to a Springfield 1903 and an M70. If it is like a 1903, it is the slow lock. If short like an M70, it is the speedlock. Also, "A" after the serial number usually means a speedlock. However, many of the slowlock rifles had the later parts fitted.

I found a model 54 in .220 Swift that is in real nice shape (98-99%) It has a sporter barrel and it doesn't appear to have ever had a scope mounted on it and is 100% original. Could someone give me an idea what this rifle is worth.
Stepchild

10 years ago I would have told you M54's were worth about 1/2 what M70 were. That's no longer true. A 54 in good origional shape goes for around $400.00, +/- a few bucks. They were available in supergrade versions also. I imagine in any calibre other than .30-06 prices for those in good shape are close to the M70's, maybe a little less. I haven't seen a good one in years, and they have appreciated quite a bit recently.

Personally I'll take a M70 over the M54 any 'ol day ...they just weren't made for scopes. Sorry I can't be more specific.

Packrat,
I appreciate your comments. I agree that the model 54 was not really intended for scope use. I guess considering when they were made it is understandable. Why they were drilled and tapped for scope use and a military Mauser type safety put on them is a mystery to me. But it's a piece of American history. Thanks,
Stepchild

There is a little lace-on leather cheekpiece that allows the 54 to be used with a scope. Mine has a Leupold vari-XII on it allowing for some really long shots at deer or antelope. I doubt it would work with the large bell scopes but the lace-on adds a bit of "period-style" class to an already great rifle.
I think I remember seeing them as high as 800 in the gun list. There are also a couple of collectors looking for target models listed there as well.

[ 10-16-2003, 09:26: Message edited by: Frank Martinez ]