need info on 54-18 MS

redmist25 · Post by **redmist25** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:29 am

Help!

I need to know what years the Anschutz 54-18 MS was manufactured. Specifically was is manufactured during or before 1975.

Thanks,
Shawn

dave imas · Post by **dave imas** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:08 am

I don't have documentation but i'm betting the answer is no. I believe the 1400 series was their main platform in the 70's. (basically the same action as used in the 1700 series hunter rifles)

edgerat · Post by **edgerat** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:50 pm

when I spoke with Homer Pearson at Champions Choice and was discussing my options with him he stated that the 54.18 is a fairly new variant within the last few years or so. I may have misunderstood him but that is how I understood it.
Isaac

Quonset Hut · Post by **Quonset Hut** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:00 pm

edgerat wrote:when I spoke with Homer Pearson at Champions Choice and was discussing my options with him he stated that the 54.18 is a fairly new variant within the last few years or so. I may have misunderstood him but that is how I understood it.
Isaac

Maybe it just seems like a few years to Homer, who went dual Distinguished in the early 1960's

. The 54:18 has been around at least since the early 90's, when I started shooting.

dave imas · Post by **dave imas** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:45 pm

you could buy a single shot 54.18ms for around $540 when I started shooting in 1982. I purchased an 1807 (same action) and had it built up in 1986.

metalhead · Post by **metalhead** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:58 pm

OMG .. Dave, 1982 ? You looked like a spring chicken the last time I gave you a hug and tried for more.. I was kinda dissapointed that you were not interested in the kiss too bro...

You certainly can not be that old...

dave imas · Post by **dave imas** » Sun May 18, 2008 5:41 pm

i was only 4 years old in '82 Marv! started shooting young.

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:45 am

i was only 4 years old in '82 Marv! started shooting young.

Then I wasn't even born!!! And I started shooting silhouette in 1977.

Innocent

redmist25 · Post by **redmist25** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:31 pm

Thanks for the replies. Just back from Ridgway and it's time to add some detail. My friend and I were crossing the border from Canada at Fort Erie/Buffalo and had the rifle in question siezed by Customs and the ATF as being stolen property. The customs agent was suspicious of the bloop tube and counter weight on the barrel and decided to do some digging into the specs on this rifle. This same rifle has had an ATF form 6 issued for crossing the border for the last five years and has been accross at least five times a year for that time. This time it came up as having the same serial number as a .22 rifle made in Germany and stolen in Nashville in 1975. No Model or more detailed description was available during the 6.5 hours we were at customs trying to sort through this mess.
I have emailed Anschutz and have yet to receive a reply hoping to confirm that these rifles were not even manufactured in 1975 and thereby prove that it is not possible to be the same rifle. Any additional info I can dig up to support or claim can only help.

nomad · Post by **nomad** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:19 pm

I just spoke with Neal Stepp in Ft Worth. He says that he 'thinks' that the 54.18s that he imported directly from Anschutz were the very first offered and he doubts that any were in the country earlier than those delivered to him.
The first one that he brought in was in August of 1981.
It was serial numbered 186xxx. He got several more in November of '81 -- also with 186xxx S/Ns.
He tells me that Anschutz numbered all those actions sequentially. IOW, anything with that action would follow that numbering system and be fitted with the appropriate bbl/stock/whatever to make it into any model/type that was needed. That said, while I'd expect that your g-man would never accept the argument, unless the serial number is lower than approximately 186,000, it has to be 1981 or later.

redmist25 · Post by **redmist25** » Mon May 19, 2008 3:52 pm

That sounds like it fits with what I have found out so far. The serial number is a 186XXX series. I hope for good news from Anschutz to further our case.

BlauBear · Post by **BlauBear** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:03 pm

redmist25 wrote:This time it came up as having the same serial number as a .22 rifle made in Germany and stolen in Nashville in 1975. No Model or more detailed description was available during the 6.5 hours we were at customs trying to sort through this mess.

That's a pretty vague basis for seizing personal property...

dryfire · Post by **dryfire** » Tue May 20, 2008 1:09 pm

"The customs agent was suspicious of the bloop tube and counter weight on the barrel and decided to do some digging into the specs on this rifle"

I have had the local police scrutinize my rifle when I've been at our range.
An 1808 with the bloop tube ... and then when they see you dryfiring
and no sound from the gun ,they get real excited.

BlauBear · Post by **BlauBear** » Tue May 20, 2008 1:33 pm

dryfire wrote:"... and then when they see you dryfiring
and no sound from the gun ,they get real excited.

Not that you would do such a thing around them deliberately - that would be baiting...

Hoser · Post by **Hoser** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:55 pm

dryfire wrote: and then when they see you dryfiring
and no sound from the gun ,they get real excited.

Most of the LE types I see at my home range and the ranges I frequent are pretty much used to me shooting everything suppressed. Gotta love the fact Colorado is very NFA friendly.