Nice! That's a very early HW 55M, probably made in 1955 or 56.
Major differences from later guns include the short threaded rear receiver section, simple stamped trigger with sear adjustment, front side screws for the action instead of an underside bolt, heavy forged cocking links, heavy cast trigger guard, and a bunch of internal differences.
The rifle probably originally came with a heavy cast alloy buttplate, nice milled steel match sight, and breech-mounted open sight. Your rear sight and buttplate are not original, but look to work well.
The serial number will probably be repeated on the right side of the cocking link, the breech lock lever, and on the left rear action below the wood line.
This photo shows HW 55's no. 662 and 1010 (the latter has the more figured wood). Yours no doubt looked much like these originally.
Major differences from later guns include the short threaded rear receiver section, simple stamped trigger with sear adjustment, front side screws for the action instead of an underside bolt, heavy forged cocking links, heavy cast trigger guard, and a bunch of internal differences.
The rifle probably originally came with a heavy cast alloy buttplate, nice milled steel match sight, and breech-mounted open sight. Your rear sight and buttplate are not original, but look to work well.
The serial number will probably be repeated on the right side of the cocking link, the breech lock lever, and on the left rear action below the wood line.
This photo shows HW 55's no. 662 and 1010 (the latter has the more figured wood). Yours no doubt looked much like these originally.
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