Sixgun wrote:Your guns are very nice and clean. I especially like the standard pre-war Mod 71. Don't know why but I have always preferred the standard over the deluxe (and I have both as you do also) Maybe because I'm a working guy and the standard identifies with me. My standard is also made in '41 and the # is 20375 Yours close?
The Finnwolfs are rarely seen. I see you have 2 of them. Can I have one
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--------------Sixgun
Thanks, Six. I had to correct the date of the Model 71 in the post. It's 1940, not 1941. The serial # is in the early 18000s. However, my other transition Model 71 is 1941. In my mind I had them reversed. The serial # of my 1941 standard 71 (pictured here) is 19957. Pretty close to yours! Is yours a transition 71 with a short tang but with a prewar style hammer and buttstock comb? My '41 also has a bolt peep. I've been told that an early short tang standard transition 71 with a prewar hammer, prewar stock comb, and bolt peep is the rarest of the 71 configurations. All things considered that sounds about right, but who knows! I'm sure at that time in 71 production they were emptying out the parts bins.
Below is a photo I think I've posted before showing the difference between the long tang stock and the early and later short tang stocks. The rifles (l to r) by date are 1936, 1941 and 1956. (The 1940 in my original post is not in this photo.) Notice on the '36 Dlx and '40 Std (and '41 Std in the next photo) how the comb comes up much closer to the tang than on the 1956 and is shaped differently...more slender looking down and more vertical from the side. Those are prewar features on the Model 71. (I don't have a photo showing the different hammer styles, but in general the top of the prewar hammer looks peened while the top of the 1956 hammer is serrated hammer.)
1941 Model 71
And, NO, you can't have one of those Finnwolfs!
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(But if you're serious, Jack, send me a PM.)
Mod71Akaska