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Winchester Model 71 Deluxe made in 1937.

The Model 71 introduced in 1935-36 and originally intended as a companion rifle the Model 70 bolt action, that was in development at the same time. The Model 71 was to replace the Model 1886 designed by John Browning in Winchester's offerings and was touted as the "Universal Hunting Rifle". The marketing of the rifles also called for the traditional model being the year the rifle was patented (e.g. Model 1866, 1873, 1886, 1895 etc.) being changed to a more modern sounding two digit numbers. This started back the Model 52 Bolt Action introduced in 192x as it was the 52nd patented model that Winchester adopted and where Winchester's modern model numbers started.  

 Winchester wanted to make the ultimate lever action, big game hunting rifle and in the mind's of many, they did just that with the Model 71.The 71 was based on the Model 1886's action, but along with a host of new features and small changes, was considered an "improved" version. One of the so called improvements was a new stock design, already being incorporated on Winchester's Model 65. The Model 71 was also made out of  "Winchester Proof Steel", a stronger steel than the Winchester Nickel Steel previously used on post-blackpowder era Winchester lever actions. The action was also modified to feed the newly designed .348 Winchester Center Fire and handle its higher pressures. . 

Being introduced in late 1935, only a few were produced, with production starting in earnest in 1936. In the interest of strength and recoil control, the first 12,000 or so Model 71's produced had long top tangs on the action. However, the designers claimed the longer top tang was unnecessary and, by September of 1937, the top tang was shortened. As a result, the comb of the stock shape was lengthened and this was the way the 71 was produced for the rest of its production, until it was discontinued in 1958.  

The Model 71 was also available in both a standard model and a Deluxe and in 1937, they offered a "short rifle", often referred to as a "carbine", version with a 20" barrel. While they had the same shaped butt stock, semi-beavertail forend and 2/3 length magazine tube, but the Deluxe version had the dished out 

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