restocking 71

[big bear]

Opinions requested on restocking old 71. I have a battered Win 71 with shattered buttstock ( ask the horse). I have got replacement wood (needs final sanding, fitting, etc.) Original rifle has sling attachment on butt stock and a sling attachment on fore end cap. Not DeLuxe style fittings but modification looks like it was done in the 1940's ( rifle serial number in low 30000). Question, when I redo the stock should I fit the old sling attachments or leave it smooth. I cannot come up with a good reason to do either. But I hate to mess up the nice piece of walnut if it's a bad idea. The rifle is not intended to be passed off as unaltered, it had a hardened recoil pad on it which I will replace with a steel buttplate of Browning manufacture.I'm really interested in the opinions of fellow 71 devotees.The rifle will be shot, and hunted with, of course.

[salvo]

If you think you need a sling, go for it. Does not make a difference either way. Make it the way that serves you best.

[Grizzly Adams]

I would sling it - unless you plan to have that horse packing it around.

[big bear]

The horse was forgiven, it was rough country.Stuff will on occasion happen, thanks for the advice.

[RIHMFIRE]

if the wood is that nice....
get a leather sling with a butt plate cover...with ammo loops

most 71 I have seen have slings and the swivel in the butt...

[Pathfinder09]

It all depends on you and how you use the gun. If you use it a lot and hunt the back country I would say sling it. If you use it as a saddle gun I say don't sling it. I have a 1948 vintage 71 standard grade that came to me used with no sling attachments. I hunt with it so I put uncle Mike's sling swivels on it. I use my rifles, no safe queens here, but.. I do treasure this rifle. I also use it as a saddle gun. I guess it is up to you. I too love a beautifyul pice of wood. but by restocking it you have already, change the collector's value on the gun,(Not that I worry about such things), but you might. Just my $.02

[J Miller]

My 2 bits worth ....

Are you going to remove the fore end cap and replace it with a cap with no sling swivel?

If not then install the butt stock swivel so it will match. Leaving one without the other doesn't look too good to my eyes.

Joe

[big bear]

In fact, I have 2 old 71's I was thinking of taking for foreend cap off the ugliest one and switching it to the less ugly one (the one with the slings) and redoing the nicer one with out sling swivels and the ugly one with swivels , then drag it through as much bush as my old legs will carry us looking for fat black bears, and slow elk.

[J Miller]

In fact, I have 2 old 71's I was thinking of taking for foreend cap off the ugliest one and switching it to the less ugly one (the one with the slings) and redoing the nicer one with out sling swivels and the ugly one with swivels , then drag it through as much bush as my old legs will carry us looking for fat black bears, and slow elk.

Now that does sound like a plan.

Joe

[RANisbet]

I have one that was drilled and the butt stock cut to add a recoil pad.
I wanted to return the butt stock to the original configuration, so I paid to have one made.
I also went onto eBay and purchased an original Winchester steel butt plate (I think it cost about $40).
Buying a semi-inletted stock was easy and reasonably priced.
Getting it fitted, checkered like the factory one, and finished was not so easy or cheap.
When I had finished, it had taken 9 months, and cost about $500., and I have not told you about the aggrevation that ensued with the stock maker.

If your fore end has checkering, then the rifle is a Deluxe. Some non-Deluxe were shipped with swivels, but that was not common. It also probably has French Polished wood, meaning that it looks a bit shiny like a lacquor finish. There are some out there with oil finish and that is a lot easier to match the finish to.

Bottom line: I recommend a stock that is as much like an original as practical. It just looks more natural.
A note about the Winchester butt plates. The 71 has the same butt plate as the model 70. That design as an extension at the top and also requires inletting of the butt stock wood for it to fit properly.
Thanks,
Bob Nisbet
Sr. Technology Protection Engineer
Army Research & Technology Protection Center
Supporting Army Aviation
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
Office: 256-876-1939
Cell: 256-797-4152

[Boreman]

Sling It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My 71's have slings. Heavy rifle to carry in your hand all day. Makes for a fresh arm at times and it's nice to hang on the sholder to and from hunting area's.

[big bear]

I have one that was drilled and the butt stock cut to add a recoil pad.
I wanted to return the butt stock to the original configuration, so I paid to have one made.
I also went onto eBay and purchased an original Winchester steel butt plate (I think it cost about $40).
Buying a semi-inletted stock was easy and reasonably priced.
Getting it fitted, checkered like the factory one, and finished was not so easy or cheap.
When I had finished, it had taken 9 months, and cost about $500., and I have not told you about the aggrevation that ensued with the stock maker.

If your fore end has checkering, then the rifle is a Deluxe. Some non-Deluxe were shipped with swivels, but that was not common. It also probably has French Polished wood, meaning that it looks a bit shiny like a lacquor finish. There are some out there with oil finish and that is a lot easier to match the finish to.

Bottom line: I recommend a stock that is as much like an original as practical. It just looks more natural.
A note about the Winchester butt plates. The 71 has the same butt plate as the model 70. That design as an extension at the top and also requires inletting of the butt stock wood for it to fit properly.
Thanks,
Bob Nisbet
Sr. Technology Protection Engineer
Army Research & Technology Protection Center
Supporting Army Aviation
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
Office: 256-876-1939
Cell: 256-797-4152

Thanks for the reply, I knew I would learn something.Where did you find out about the french lacquer finish? I thought it was some weird refinishing on my rifle. The swivels don't look like the swivels on Deluxe model , so I doubt they are factory original, no? the fore end cap has also turned a bronze hue, which I read here somewhere happened with time to some Winchester metal finishes.

[RANisbet]

Yes it is common for the fore end cap bluing to deteriorate. My rifle everywhere else is like new, but there is a section of that part that is showing the same as yours.
The factory sling swivels are for a 1 inch wide sling, perhaps a tad smaller, maybe 15/16ths.
Original swivels are in very high demand and if purchased could cost you as much as $50 for a pair.
Whatever you have, if they work, keep them.
As previously mentioned, the model 71 is not a light weight rifle, so slings are a benefit. Your rifle also has the fore end cap with swivel hole, so take that as a hint and install the butt stock swivel.
By the way, if you install the butt swivel holder, you will find that with factory swivels you will need to relieve the wood on both sides just a tad to allow the swivel to rotate forward and backward.
As for the factory original slings: Many of them had a brass double hook on one end and the other end was looped through the swivel and a leather lacing used to secure it. They were a one piece unit, not like the military sling that had another separate leather piece.
Bob Nisbet

[Modoc ED]

My 2 bits worth ....

Are you going to remove the fore end cap and replace it with a cap with no sling swivel?

If not then install the butt stock swivel so it will match. Leaving one without the other doesn't look too good to my eyes.

Joe

+1 and well said Joe.