Model 71 in 33 WCF????

coyote nose · Post by **coyote nose** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:36 pm

Read a back issue of American Rifleman (March 1981 page 72) where they state Winchester made the 71 in .33 on special order. Any levergunners out there ever see one of these? I NEVER have.

jbm1968 · Post by **jbm1968** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:06 pm

I never have seen one either, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I thought they only came in .348???

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:04 pm

Who did they cite as a source?

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:15 pm

According to Madis:

"Caliber 348, which had been developed for this model, was the only cartridge for which the Model 71 was chambered except for experimental models."

I think it would be interesting to see what chamberings Winchester tried in those "experimental" rifles.

Ed

Yodar · Post by **Yodar** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:21 pm

According to an American Rifleman article on the Model 71 I read some time ago, a few Model 71s were made up in .45/70 for VIPs; probably Winchester executives.

coyote nose · Post by **coyote nose** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:20 pm

Who did they cite as a source?

A 1938 Winchester sales catalog: "-the gun chambered in .33 caliber can be furnished on special order".

Larry O · Post by **Larry O** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:10 pm

I ran across a Gun Collector, in Townsend, Montana, several years ago that claimed that he had a Model 71 that was in 33 caliber and claimed that he had a factory letter to prove it. It was, indeed, a special order from Winchester. At the very first, Winchester was still making 33's for both the '86 and the '71. Hope this tidbit helps here.

Yodar · Post by **Yodar** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:34 pm

I found the source that stated a few Model 71s were made in .45/70 if anyone is interested. See American Rifleman, April, 1991, page 30. Number 7876, circa 1938, and number 45116, circa 1956, were chambered for .45/70. Article by Rick Hacker. Pictures of guns accompanying the article were courtesy of Collectable Arms International, Inc., Haymarket, VA.

Oz n bolivia · Post by **Oz n bolivia** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:48 pm

What would be the .33. The Winchester 32 special was a .321 which is close to .33. Was it a super 32Win. Spl.

The longer I live the more I need to learn! My head is starting to overflow, I need a bit bucket.

Oz

Pepe Ray · Post by **Pepe Ray** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:47 pm

Hi Oz;
Can't understand why know one has jumped in here for you.
The 1886 Win was chambered in the .33 Win.n May have also be3en called 33 W.C.F., not sure. The case was basically a 45-70 necked down with a good taper. Original loadings ranged from 200gr to 300gr.
I have somewhere in my library, a book about Grizzly Bear attacks. In it is told of a rogue bear who, when finally killed, was found to have a .33Win bullet embedded in its skull. Nuff said?
Pepe Ray

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:39 pm

I have an 1886 marked .33 W.C.F. Here's some more info for you, OZ.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/33_WCF.htm

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:53 pm

Although I've never read it or seen hard evidence, I believe there are M71s in 45-70 and 33 wcf. I've talked to four different 71 collectors (two of which are on this forum) that have all mentioned these special order calibers. It's not too hard to believe, and if there were only a handful, you can bet they're locked up pretty tight.

I do believe I heard that the collector that has either #348 or #71 also has a 45-70.

There's a collector in Texas that knows just about everything there is to know about 71s, and owns about 70 of them last time I talked to him. I'm sure he would know about the 33s and 45-70s, but I never asked him. I'll have to see if I can find his email addy.

Model 71 in 33 WCF????

Model 71 in 33 WCF????

.33 WCF