early match 54 dovetail size

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dirge

early match 54 dovetail size

#1 Post by dirge »

I have a very early match 54 that i have centra/mec sights on, the sights do not fit the dovetails on the rifle, i have installed some anschutz risers on the dovetails, but these do not fit either, i have had to shim out the dovetail about 1 mm to get the sights to fit, the sights fit perfectly on my anschutz 64 mpr.

Did they change the dovetail size at some stage?
Rockhopper
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Re: early match 54 dovetail size

#2 Post by Rockhopper »

This probably doesn't help but its interesting no the less!

"Some obvious keys for dating older Anschutz 54's and 64’s in auction listings.

1. The original 54-Action rifles date from 1954 and until ca1960 had vertically-rounded (bullnose) forearm tips, tapered barrels, single-claw extractors and wing safeties.

2. In 1960/61 the single horizontal barrel retention pin was replaced by two vertical pins.

3. Before 1962 barrel muzzles were machined with a dovetail block for the front sight. After 1962 muzzles were drilled and tapped for a dovetail block.

4. Before 1963 1413 models had tapered barrels. Straight barrels for the 1413 began in 1963.

5. The 64-Action rifles are an improved Flobert bolt patent and date from the early 1960’s. They are smaller-diameter actions with significantly weaker bolts and are worth $2-400 less than the equivalent 54-Action.

6. Adding two-number year dates to barrels – 1961

7. Front receiver ring grooved for scope mounts – early 1965

8. Single-claw to double-claw extractors on the 54 action – late 1965

9. Fixed-hook to removable-hook buttplates - ca1970

10. Checkering changed to stippling in 1970 (1407) and '71 (1411/1413) .

11. Barrel dates changed to letter codes replacing numerical dates – ca1977

12. Wing Safety to Side-Safety triggers - First version either 1976 or 77 with the 5071 trigger on a Match 54 rifle, commonly referred to as a “1600”, which were made until 1980, when the 1800 rifle with 5018 trigger, swept bolt handle and improved buttplate was introduced.

13. The swept bolt handle was introduced in mid-1978. Hence some 1600-Series rifles have straight bolt handles, and some have swept handles.

14. The only difference between the 1800 and 1900 rifles is the front sight mounting. From a 3/8” scope block mounting to a grooved barrel. The front sights are not interchangeable without an adaptor, which usually also requires a rear riser block to match the height increase."

Turns out mine is a pre 1960 one.
dirge

Re: early match 54 dovetail size

#3 Post by dirge »

Thanks for that rockhopper, mine is a 1954/1955, with a serial number in the 4000's!
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