[coalbucket]

Sir, I inhertited a .375 H&H from step-father. He told me that this gun was one of the first 10 chambered in .375 and later told me he received a letter from Winchester requesting to purchase gun back. However, by this time, he had had gun re-barrelled with a 28 inch medium weight Hollywood Arms Barrell, chambered in .375 C.C.C. which stands for Combustion Chamfering Chamber which, with all measurements that I have come up with off of Fireformed Brass, is the same as a .375 40 degrees improved. I used to have a receipt, now misplaced, stating a scope was mounted on this gun in 1936. Serial #44152. Is this a Model 54 or a Model 70?

[justashooter]

dead giveaway on early 54 is a schanubel forend.

[Jim Watson]

Whelen-NRA stock on later 54s did not have schnable.

There are discrepancies here, though. My Winchester book is loaned out, all I have at hand is Blue Book and Standard Catalog, but for what it is worth...

Neither shows M54 in .375 H&H at all.
M54 No 44152 was made in 1935.

M70 No 44152 was made in 1942, which does not jibe with 1936 scope installation.

I don't know just what is going on.

M54 or M70?
Is the trigger guard stamped or milled?
Is the safety like a Mauser or Springfield (except safe to the left instead of right) or is is a lever swinging fore and aft with the third position to allow unloading on safe?

[coalbucket]

Mr.Watson, I appreciate you sending the info regarding M54 or 70.

The trigger guard is milled. The safety & firing pin are Beuhler.

Safety works fore and aft and is on right side. Safety works all the way forward is fire position, back one notch is safety on unload, all the way back is safety on bolt locked.

[Jim K]

The rifle is a Model 70 with the forged trigger guard and the safety on the right side of the bolt sleeve. The Model 54 had a stamped guard and a "wing" safety like the M1903 Springfield.

The Model 70 was introduced to distributors by a factory letter dated Sept. 18, 1936, but none were shipped until after Jan. 1, 1937. The .300 and .375 H&H Magnum chamberings were introduced later that year, so it is unlikely that Nr. 44152, made in 1942, would be among the first 10 in either caliber.

This is probably a case of memory lapse or confusion as sometimes happens with older guns.

Jim

[coalbucket]

Mr. Keenan:

Thanks for the reply. You are correct about "memory loss". It has been over 40 years since I was introced to that and the stories regarding it. The time frame of 1942 seems to be more in line. I was originally told that it was a Model 70. The early serial number had me confused and the l936 receipt for the scope mounting could have possible been for another gun.

Thank you for the information.

Coalbucket

[Jim K]

Well, I said, "This is probably a case of memory lapse or confusion as sometimes happens with older guns."

Note that I didn't say "older people"; at 72 that hits too darn close to home.

Jim