This 1955 rifle is chambered for the .358 Winchester cartridge. The rifle has been refinished and is in excellent condition.
This rifle required some extra scrutiny due to the rarity of the chambering and the number of fakes in existence. A very close examination of the barrel leads us to believe it is an original .358 barrel that has at some point been re-blued. The date and chambering markings on the bottom of the barrel are not completely readable; it appears they were partially polished off during the refinishing process. The bore is in excellent condition with no notable wear or pitting, rating a solid 9+ under borescope examination. The front sight ramp is the rare #5 soldered-on ramp with a cross-hatched pattern. This ramp was briefly used during the time period this rifle was produced.
The re-blued finish on the receiver, bolt handle, and other bolt parts is generally in excellent condition, with only slight wear showing on the extractor, firing pin, and bolt handle. The metal is all in excellent condition without scratches, dings, pits or other damage. The featherweight aluminum bottom metal is in excellent (near perfect) condition.
The refinished stock is the correct vintage for the rifle and is in excellent condition with no cracks or stains, gouges, or other major damage. It has a few very light handling marks. The checking is original and in excellent condition. The stock is fitted with a vented Winchester-marked recoil pad which is not a factory part and was installed during a past restoration. The pad is in excellent condition, still soft and uncracked.
The bolt does not have a visible serial number. It may have been polished off when the rifle was refinished. The magazine box is not original to this rifle, it is a standard box (.30-06, .270, etc. length) that has been modified into a box for the short cartridges. The modification appears to be well done and is fully functional.
NOTE: This item can only be shipped directly to you if you are an FFL or C&R license holder. If this is not the case, the item must be shipped to an FFL holder near you who can complete the transfer. If needed, we are happy to assist you in locating an FFL holder near you who can assist in this way.
