Winchester Model 54
The Winchester Model 54 is a bolt-action rifle manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The 54 was the first successful production run civilian centerfire bolt action for Winchester.[1]
| Winchester Model 54 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Thomas Crosley Johnson |
| Manufacturer | Winchester Repeating Arms Company |
| Produced | 1925–1936 |
| No. built | 50,145 |
| Variants | Standard Grade, Carbine, Super Grade, Target |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7¾ lb. (Standard Grade, 24 in. barrel), 11¾ lb. (Sniper's Rifle), 8 lb. (Super Grade), 7¼ lb. (Carbine) |
| Cartridge | various, see article |
| Barrels | 24 in. (Standard Grade), 20 in. (Carbine), 26 in. heavy (Sniper's Rifle) |
| Action | bolt |
| Feed system | Non-detachable box magazine, holding 5 cartridges |
| Sights | open |
Using a Mauser 98[2]-type action, the 54 was a less-expensive derivation of the limited-production handmade Model 51 "Imperial" of 1919. The Model 54 was produced until 1936 when, with some modifications, it was reintroduced[3] as the Winchester Model 70. The Model 54 had a relatively heavy two stage trigger pull, which was greatly improved in the Model 70.[3]
Standard chamberings included the .22 Hornet, .220 Swift, .250-3000 Savage, .257 Roberts, .270 Winchester, 30-30 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, 7x57mm Mauser, 7.65x53mm Argentine, and 9x57mm Mauser. Special order chamberings were made in .25-35 Winchester, .32 Winchester Special, and .35 Whelen.[4]
Introduced prior to the popularity of telescopic sights, it was intended for use with open or aperture sights, and the bolt throw makes the addition of a scope difficult.[4]
