This deluxe Winchester Model 53 takedown rifle was manufactured in 1926. This rifle has a number of rare special order features which include: (1) Winchester No. 6 factory engraving with scroll, border and ribbon engraving and detailed game scenes featuring a bighorn sheep and whitetail deer on the sides of the receiver, (2) highly figured, fancy grain stock and forearm, (3) pistol grip stock with cheekpiece, (4) modified Winchester Style G checkering on the pistol grip and forearm, (5) Winchester "Stainless Steel" barrel and (6) Marble No. 64 semi-buckhorn rear sight and Marble front sight with colored bead. A similar example of No. 6 factory engraving is shown on page 384 of "The Winchester Book" by Madis on a Winchester Model 1892 manufactured in 1919. The rifle has a blue finish on the magazine, forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger and lever. The stock and forearm have a low luster piano finish. The pistol grip has a black hard rubber cap embossed "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS", and the stock has a steel shotgun buttplate with horizontal grooves. The barrel has been drilled and tapped in front and behind the rear sight for telescopic sight bases. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 53- WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight followed by "-STAINLESS STEEL-" and the caliber designation "32 W.C.F." Two Winchester oval "W/P" proofmarks are stamped on the top of the barrel, and a third proof is stamped on the top of the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-/-MADE IN U.S.A.-". The serial number is roll-stamped across the bottom of the receiver. Includes the Fall 2010 issue of "The Winchester Collector" which illustrates and discusses the rare features of this rifle.

Fine as period refurbished. The finish has been removed from the stainless steel barrel, and the barrel was drilled and tapped for telescopic sight bases during the period of use. The rifle retains 60% of the blue finish. The forearm cap, trigger, lever, hammer and bolt retain nearly all of the high polish blue. The blue finish on the receiver is thin on the bottom and high points. The receiver retains 70% of the period blue. The engraving and highly detailed game scenes on the sides of the receiver are sharp. The stock and forearm are in very good condition and retain close to 90% of the original finish. The checkered panels show light-moderate handling wear. The highly figured stock and forearm have only slight handling or storage marks. The buttplate is a period replacement and has a mottled steel gray patina with no visible finish. This is a rare example of a deluxe Winchester Model 53 takedown rifle with an unusual combination of special order features seldom found on Model 53 rifles.