My rifle "holy grail" was for years a pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 caliber. Long known as "The Rifleman's Rifle," the pre-'64 Model 70s featured controlled feeding, reliability, almost hand-made care in manufacture, graceful lines, an excellent adjustable trigger, hand checkering, and legendary accuracy. Finally, in 2006, I found my holy grail in this rifle, made in 1949 in the "golden years" of Model 70 manufacture. I mounted a Nikon scope on it, and it rewarded me with minute-of-angle groups at 100 yards. Here's a pic:
I was really pleased that this 60-year-old rifle still performs, and that it gives me great joy of ownership. I am saddened that the original Winchester plant in New Haven CT is now history, and no longer producing classics. New Model 70s are now being made, but not in their original form, and not in New Haven. A new "commemorative" Model 94 is now being made in Japan. It's just not the same, to me. I guess I just happen to like the good old made-in-America classics.
Anyone else have one or more of the pre-'64 Model 70s? Pictures?