TargetTalk

I have an Anschutz barreled action marked Match 54 and 2 extractors on the bolt. Aside from the Anschutz name and address there are no further markings. Can someone help me identify the year and model number? Thanks, James Storm jamesestormmd@yahoo.com

James,

Pictures, we need pictures.

Two claws on the bolt narrows it down to any Match 54 made after 1964. I presume it's a single shot action, as Match 54 sporting rifles have always had two claws.

If the barrel is marked "Anschutz Modell Match 54", it was made between 1965 and 1980, so a 14xx or 16xx depending on the age. Anschutz didn't marked the specific model number, in my view to speed up production.

Some questions to help with the ID?

Bolt handle - straight or curved?
Bolt end cap - flat, slightly domed, or conical (and screw on)
Barrel - length, dia material
Proof marks

Happy New Year

Tim

Barrel diameter is about .948” in front of the receiver, .966 at the muzzle, and .954” at about 6” from the muzzle. On the left side of the barrel near the receiver there are a couple of tiny stamping plus the numerals 74 stamped into the barrel. The bolt handle is straight with an integral spherical knob. The rear of the bolt is a flattened dome. The bolt has 2 extractors. The last 3 numbers of the S/N of the receiver are stamped onto the face of the bolt and they match. There is a wing-like safety lever on the left side of the bolt. The top of the receiver is grooved. There are 3 dove tail sight mounts on the barrel, one at the muzzle and two further back toward the receiver. The last 3 ½ inches of the barrel are slightly elevated above the level of the rest of the barrel, but this area does not have any integral grooves. I took some photos but am having trouble attaching them at the moment.

James,

You have a 1974 vintage heavy barrel. I presume the barrel is a tad over 27in? Depending on the original stock it could have been a 1413, 1411, or 1410.

Tim

Am I correct in assuming that the 74 stamp refers to 1974, the year of manufacture?

The barrel is 27 1/4 inches long, bolt face to muzzle. I forgot to include that number earlier. Jim

[quote="James Storm" post_id=324061 time=1672533031 user_id=7019]
The barrel is 27 1/4 inches long, bolt face to muzzle. I forgot to include that number earlier. Jim
[/quote]

Definitely a heavy barrel. It has one of the single stage triggers, most likely the 1408-U1 set for 500gr.

You asked about the 74 in the proofmarks representing the year of manufacture. Practically, yes this does show that. Technically it gives the date the barrel was proof tested at the Ulm Proof House; not by Anschutz themselves. But that's not likely to have been very long after manufacture.

The bolt handle has lost some of the bluing. This is a normal effect of working the bolt, although the location of the wear makes me think a previous owner habitually rested the rifle on the bolt handle.

Tim, Thanks very much for your help in this matter. Jim

Tim S wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:35 pm Definitely a heavy barrel. It has one of the single stage triggers, most likely the 1408-U1 set for 500gr.

Slight thread hijack, but do you know if a late model 2 stage trigger (5018 for instance) can be used on these early 54 rifles?

j-team wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:07 pm Slight thread hijack, but do you know if a late model 2 stage trigger (5018 for instance) can be used on these early 54 rifles?

No, I'm afraid the 5018 won't work. The screw-holes line up, but that's all. There are two issues: first, the 5018 has a pivot pin at the sear which needs a relief slot in the receiver. 18xx and 19xx (and I presume 54.30s too) have the relief slot, but 14xx actions don't. You can trim the pin, or grind a slot in the action, but that won't help problem 2. This is the sear/bent interface. Anschutz moved the sear and the bent, the bit of the firing pin that engages the sear, 2mm towards the tang in 1980 with the 5018. In short a 14xx bolt won't engage a 5018 trigger. You can't swap the firing pins either, as an 18/19xx pin won't cam the 14xx handle properly. You'd need a whole new bolt to work a 5018.

What you can fit is a 5071 (and derivatives like the 5072 and 5075). This is the direct ancestor of the 5018, originally made for the 16xx rifles. The sear cross pin is still an issue, but the sear/bent geometry is the same as a 14xx. However, Anschutz no longer make the 5071, so you have to find one first. Technically one could make a 5071 from a 5018 by swapping out the sear; properly it would be a 5071-1 rather than a 5071. However I don't think Anschutz still make 16xx sears though.

The late John Kelly made his triggers to fit any Match 54 by designing a lot of play in the mounting holes; slide the trigger to meet the firing pin, old or new. 507x and 5018 triggers do this too to accomodate fractional differences in firing pin length, "timing" the cocking stroke so it doesn't over or under compress the spring.

I agree with The above post regarding the 5018 trigger. What was not noted is that Anschutz did produce a trigger very similar to the 5018 the would work on the older rifle. It was the 5071 trigger. The only difference was the catch link (referred to as sear/bent interface above). The above post is correct on the need for a small relief for the retaining pin.

Some of the old catchlink are occasionally found. Then a 5018 trigger can be converted and used.

MarkTrew

MarkTrew wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 9:42 am I agree with The above post regarding the 5018 trigger. What was not noted is that Anschutz did produce a trigger very similar to the 5018 the would work on the older rifle. It was the 5071 trigger. The only difference was the catch link (referred to as sear/bent interface above). The above post is correct on the need for a small relief for the retaining pin.

Some of the old catchlink are occasionally found. Then a 5018 trigger can be converted and used.

MarkTrew

Mark,

To be picky, a 5071 is not simply a 5018 with a different catch. Anschutz tweaked the design to create the 5018, adding the coarse weight adjustment cam at the side. A true 507x trigger lacks this refinement.

At some point after Anschutz brought out the 5018 they ran out of 5071 housings, and used 5018 frames instead with the appropriate catch. This was the 5071-1.

Tim S wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 2:49 pm
No, I'm afraid the 5018 won't work...

Thanks Tim.

Its a shame, as well cared for 54s often come up for very reasonable prices and if you could upgrade the trigger (and maybe drop it into a mordern stock) they would be very competitive rifles at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Yes, older 54s can shoot very well, and there is a school of thought that barrel quality/steel was better back in the day. I'm not sure a trigger replacement is always necessary though. I like the 5018, but the old 1407-U9 two stage is not bad. The 5018 can be refined more, but conversely there are more screws for the layman to twiddle. Mind you, the 3lb single stage can be a pig, and there's no facility to adjust for finger length.

Much as I like my Kelly, I doubt there's enough market to sustain an aftermarket trigger in anything more than hobby quantities, as the 14xx triggers are sufficient for many shooters.

The lack of spare parts for the bolt is a disadvantage.

I thank all of you who have been so helpful in identifying this barreled action. I just placed it for sale on TT. If any of you have interest in purchasing it, I will drop my price by $50 for you. Jim Storm