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A pre-'64 Model 70 Winchester thread **New info 3/10/11**
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
Crawlmachine, apparently you have a standard grade featherweight that has been enhanced by a former owner. The jeweled bolt was done afterwards as standard grades werent jeweled. Does your bolt have an engraved serial number matching the serial number of the reciever? Concerning the solid bolt handle on your rifle. The first year of featherweight production, late 1952 to early 1953, still had the solid bolt handle. In 1953 all model 70's has a drilled bolt handle. The floorplate is interesting. Is your triggerguard and floorplate aluminum or steel? If in question use a magnet to test. Yours should be aluminum. Lastly the floorplate has supergrade inscribed on it. It looks original. If it is original you should be able to sell it if you wish for a good sum and and allow you to easily purchase an original to the gun floorplate.
wraco
Member
Bought another pre-64 Model 70, a Westerner, 264 Win Mag. . It should show up here any day now. . I think I'm up to 15 of them rascals . . geez, getting to be a habit.
Rod
Rod
AdventureTime
Member
I know this is an old thead, but I'm looking at picking up a pre '64 M70. I'm sort of confused about some features, though. The seller says it does not have super grade stamped on the floor plate, but the stock has all the features of a super grade (I think). It is chambered in 270. If any of the experts still haunt this thread, I'm all ears!
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Malpasowildlifer
Member
Very nice thread.
Towards the end of high school, I developed an interest in pre 64' model 70's and sought one in 30-06. I found a beautiful Featherweight model at the old Trigger Hill Trading Post in Salinas, CA when I was in junior college. No recoil pad and just beautiful. I loves 180 gr. bullets and shot factory loads sub MOA with not problem.
I've since found another 30-06 and a 300 H&H. Still on the look out for one in 264. Win Mag, .257 Roberts and a Featherweight in .243. I recently saw a Featherweight in 264 Win Mag a while back, which I didn't know existed. Way overpriced; it was in a tweaker Pawn Shop.
Once I read "Point of Impact" by Stephen Hunter, one of my grail guns is a pre war target model in 300 H&H
Towards the end of high school, I developed an interest in pre 64' model 70's and sought one in 30-06. I found a beautiful Featherweight model at the old Trigger Hill Trading Post in Salinas, CA when I was in junior college. No recoil pad and just beautiful. I loves 180 gr. bullets and shot factory loads sub MOA with not problem.
I've since found another 30-06 and a 300 H&H. Still on the look out for one in 264. Win Mag, .257 Roberts and a Featherweight in .243. I recently saw a Featherweight in 264 Win Mag a while back, which I didn't know existed. Way overpriced; it was in a tweaker Pawn Shop.
Once I read "Point of Impact" by Stephen Hunter, one of my grail guns is a pre war target model in 300 H&H
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My father gave me his Mod 70, 30-06. It is a tack driver, made in late 50's. I have his win 94 32 win spc. and have bought another 94 in 32 spc. I have several other pre 64 winchesters also.
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Pre-war Bull gun help please
I am new to this forum. I found this thread very informative and fascinating depth of M70 knowledge here. About 20 years ago when e-bay still sold real guns I purchased a M70 Bull Gun and have struggled to get it authenticated. Hopefully experts here can help. The rifle has s/n 14757, 1938 production? It has a 24" bull barrel with a straight taper measuring .780 at the muzzle. It is marked MODEL-70--30-06 SPFLD.- It has target bases at the muzzle, on the front receiver ring and the barrel centered 6" forward of the receiver. It has a Lyman 48 WJS receiver sight and a globe front with aperture insert. The action is a cloverleaf tang with the safety on top of the bolt. The workmanship and finish on the action is simply exceptional as is the operation of the bolt and trigger. In horned mounts (sp) it has a Unertl target scope s/n 38587 with a 16x eyepiece. The stock is a full marksman style with a high straight comb and a beavertail style forend, in a beautiful figured dark walnut not checkered, with a full checkered steel blue butt plate and a nickel finished forend insert and sling swivel with 7 threaded position holes for a hand stop. A fixed blued sling swivel inletted into the butt with 2 mounting screws. The overall condition is excellent ++ and appears to have had very little use. One of the scope base screws in the front receiver ring is broken off. There is 1 factory hole d/t in the rear ring. I have fired numerous bug hole groups with Fed Gold Medal 168 S at 100 yds. with ease and the 10 ring at 200 is not a problem with the Lyman. Any information on the history will be greatly appreciated.
I am new to this forum. I found this thread very informative and fascinating depth of M70 knowledge here. About 20 years ago when e-bay still sold real guns I purchased a M70 Bull Gun and have struggled to get it authenticated. Hopefully experts here can help. The rifle has s/n 14757, 1938 production? It has a 24" bull barrel with a straight taper measuring .780 at the muzzle. It is marked MODEL-70--30-06 SPFLD.- It has target bases at the muzzle, on the front receiver ring and the barrel centered 6" forward of the receiver. It has a Lyman 48 WJS receiver sight and a globe front with aperture insert. The action is a cloverleaf tang with the safety on top of the bolt. The workmanship and finish on the action is simply exceptional as is the operation of the bolt and trigger. In horned mounts (sp) it has a Unertl target scope s/n 38587 with a 16x eyepiece. The stock is a full marksman style with a high straight comb and a beavertail style forend, in a beautiful figured dark walnut not checkered, with a full checkered steel blue butt plate and a nickel finished forend insert and sling swivel with 7 threaded position holes for a hand stop. A fixed blued sling swivel inletted into the butt with 2 mounting screws. The overall condition is excellent ++ and appears to have had very little use. One of the scope base screws in the front receiver ring is broken off. There is 1 factory hole d/t in the rear ring. I have fired numerous bug hole groups with Fed Gold Medal 168 S at 100 yds. with ease and the 10 ring at 200 is not a problem with the Lyman. Any information on the history will be greatly appreciated.
Here's my 300 H&H which I restocked from a block many years ago. I took a course in stockmaking at Rochester Institute of Technology from noted stockmaker Joe Balickie, and the following year he taught me how to checker.
The whole process was so labor-intensive that I've never tackled another one--this was my first and likely my last! SDH--you have my respect!
Sorry for the blurry pix.
The whole process was so labor-intensive that I've never tackled another one--this was my first and likely my last! SDH--you have my respect!
Sorry for the blurry pix.
OIF2
Member
Here's my '49 standard grade, with a Lyman 4X in vintage Redfield Jr mounts. Caliber .30-06. Just got a '52 .270, also a standard grade. Awesome rifles, and I'm a lefty. Hopefully, my M70 affliction will stop at two...
Bob
Bob
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OIF2
Member
A great thread that shouldn't die. This one is a slightly battered '52 standard grade .270 with a Lyman 4X. Still serving proudly.
Bob
Bob
As to the 243 shooting 2 and a half inch groups. I purchased a German Weatherby in 300, I could not get it to group well, thought because of the twist rate at 9 afoot it was due to lite bullets. Nope, had it rebedded, still no good, finally sent to Texas Hill people who found a broken base screw. One inch all day with 180 grain, sweet.
G-ManBart
Member
This is a great thread! I'm wondering if one of the experts might chime in here for me about barrel markings.
20 years ago I bought a Model 70 from a very old collector in Montana...he had a bunch of them! The one I bought is a Prewar Supergrade in 300 H&H Magnum (correctly marked "300 Magnum" on the barrel). The serial number is 48581, which dates it to 1942. It appears to have all the correct parts...bolt etched with the receiver serial number, SG marked magazine floor plate, standard SG stock with ebony tip, deluxe sling swivels, hard rubber Winchester marked grip cap, checkered steel buttplate, cloverleaf tang on the receiver, no screw holes on the top rear of the receiver, 26" barrel (measures 25.25 from the front of the receiver ring, and 26 from the gas port hole), integral front sight ramp, front sight hood, standard rear sight in front of the front receiver ring, etc.
I wanted to put a modern scope on it, but didn't want to ruin it by drilling holes in the rear of the receiver, so I had my father (a solid machinist) make a custom rear sight base that attaches to the two screw holes on the side of the receiver...it wraps around the receiver, and accepts a normal Burris ring. It looks great, and there is zero contact with the top of the receiver, but you have to look close to tell.
It's been 20 years since I had the action out of the stock, and I can't remember if I ever checked the markings on the bottom of it for date of manufacture, etc. I think maybe I looked years ago, and it was marked "41" but that could actually be some date research I did on a different gun.
In doing some research, I've seen people say that the barrel should be marked "Supergrade" in some fashion near the proof mark and date stamp, but I can't verify that. Assuming the rifle is all original, what should those markings be (realizing the year can be slightly off from the receiver date)?
I'm somewhat considering selling it, so if anybody wants to venture a guess on what it's worth, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. I never shoot it, and I don't hunt any more, so it's just sitting in the safe. I will say that it proved remarkably accurate with Federal Supreme 180gr Nosler Partition ammo...3/4" 3-shot groups at 100yds. The fact that it shoots so well, and that I have a thing for old Winchesters makes me want to keep it...it has a 52C and 97 as brothers.
These aren't great pictures (just took them a few minutes ago), but I know we all love pictures!
20 years ago I bought a Model 70 from a very old collector in Montana...he had a bunch of them! The one I bought is a Prewar Supergrade in 300 H&H Magnum (correctly marked "300 Magnum" on the barrel). The serial number is 48581, which dates it to 1942. It appears to have all the correct parts...bolt etched with the receiver serial number, SG marked magazine floor plate, standard SG stock with ebony tip, deluxe sling swivels, hard rubber Winchester marked grip cap, checkered steel buttplate, cloverleaf tang on the receiver, no screw holes on the top rear of the receiver, 26" barrel (measures 25.25 from the front of the receiver ring, and 26 from the gas port hole), integral front sight ramp, front sight hood, standard rear sight in front of the front receiver ring, etc.
I wanted to put a modern scope on it, but didn't want to ruin it by drilling holes in the rear of the receiver, so I had my father (a solid machinist) make a custom rear sight base that attaches to the two screw holes on the side of the receiver...it wraps around the receiver, and accepts a normal Burris ring. It looks great, and there is zero contact with the top of the receiver, but you have to look close to tell.
It's been 20 years since I had the action out of the stock, and I can't remember if I ever checked the markings on the bottom of it for date of manufacture, etc. I think maybe I looked years ago, and it was marked "41" but that could actually be some date research I did on a different gun.
In doing some research, I've seen people say that the barrel should be marked "Supergrade" in some fashion near the proof mark and date stamp, but I can't verify that. Assuming the rifle is all original, what should those markings be (realizing the year can be slightly off from the receiver date)?
I'm somewhat considering selling it, so if anybody wants to venture a guess on what it's worth, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. I never shoot it, and I don't hunt any more, so it's just sitting in the safe. I will say that it proved remarkably accurate with Federal Supreme 180gr Nosler Partition ammo...3/4" 3-shot groups at 100yds. The fact that it shoots so well, and that I have a thing for old Winchesters makes me want to keep it...it has a 52C and 97 as brothers.
These aren't great pictures (just took them a few minutes ago), but I know we all love pictures!
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A great looking old model 70 you have there GManBart. Everything looks original and in great condition. On supergrade guns the under barrel stamping should read "super" and be hand stamped. I would really appreciate a close up picture of the rear scope mount your father built. Stith was a company that manufactured the same type of rear base as yours though they used a hideous front mount that was installed in the rear sight dovetail.
suckersrus
Member
Three notable events occurred in 1952.
1. Winchester first chambered the 308 cartridge.
2. Winchester introduced their first Feather Weight rifles.
3. I was born.
So this 1952 Model 70 is my Birthday Gun
If I remember correctly the 308 FW was not produced for the entire year of 1952, maybe only December. Anyone?
Note: I was born in December.
This one had a plastic stock when I bought it so I wanted something nice looking but shoot-able. So I contacted Accurate Innovations and they came through with an outstanding stock.
Accurate Innovations | Drop Dead Gorgeous Amazingly Accurate
1. Winchester first chambered the 308 cartridge.
2. Winchester introduced their first Feather Weight rifles.
3. I was born.
So this 1952 Model 70 is my Birthday Gun
If I remember correctly the 308 FW was not produced for the entire year of 1952, maybe only December. Anyone?
Note: I was born in December.
This one had a plastic stock when I bought it so I wanted something nice looking but shoot-able. So I contacted Accurate Innovations and they came through with an outstanding stock.
Accurate Innovations | Drop Dead Gorgeous Amazingly Accurate
Three notable events occurred in 1952.
1. Winchester first chambered the 308 cartridge.
2. Winchester introduced their first Feather Weight rifles.
3. I was born.
So this 1952 Model 70 is my Birthday Gun
If I remember correctly the 308 FW was not produced for the entire year of 1952, maybe only December. Anyone?
Note: I was born in December.
This one had a plastic stock when I bought it so I wanted something nice looking but shoot-able. So I contacted Accurate Innovations and they came through with an outstanding stock.
Accurate Innovations | Drop Dead Gorgeous Amazingly Accurate
You have an unusual rifle. The first year of featherweights didn't have the bolt handles hollowed out. They has solid bolt handles as yours does.
gregintenn
Member
Since this thread was new, my featherweight got an upgrade of a period Bausch and Lomb Balvar scope and mounts. In my opinion, these are very good scopes that don't yet command a lot of money when you can find them.
Post em up and keep this thread going! I love Winchesters.
Post em up and keep this thread going! I love Winchesters.
G-ManBart
Member
Thanks for the barrel marking info!
I actually purchased a Stith mount shortly after I got the gun, but it was too ugly for my taste. Here are a couple of pics of my father's creation. You can just get a glimpse of the material he put between the mount and the top of the receiver to ensure there wouldn't be any finish damage....need to ask what he used, but it almost reminds me of a soft gasket felt. It's just a little tuft visible on the right side.
Aside from where the screw holes are, there is no contact between mount and receiver. It's not fancy, but looks reasonable, and is way better than drilling holes where they shouldn't be
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Frank46
US Veteran
I have had the following,
1949 standard 30/06
1955 featherweight in 308
1959 actioned match rifle in 30/06 just the bbl had been replaced
1957 match rifle
1928 M54 carbine with sewer pipe bore but still have the action and a bishop sporter stock for it
Couple pre '64 win 94's
and finally all that is left is a post '64 M70 match rifle. Enjoyed all of them except the featherweight as the stock design cheek piece would smack you in the jaw each time you shot. Frank
1949 standard 30/06
1955 featherweight in 308
1959 actioned match rifle in 30/06 just the bbl had been replaced
1957 match rifle
1928 M54 carbine with sewer pipe bore but still have the action and a bishop sporter stock for it
Couple pre '64 win 94's
and finally all that is left is a post '64 M70 match rifle. Enjoyed all of them except the featherweight as the stock design cheek piece would smack you in the jaw each time you shot. Frank
model70hunter
Member
Glad this thread is back.
I sold mine except for 3, all in 270 Win. My Dad's Standard, a Featherweight and a custom one. The "customization" was done before I got it.
I've had 2 different collections of pre 64's over the years. Several prewar with one a Super Grade, 2 in 257 Roberts, 8 or 10 in 270 Win, Supergrades 300 H&H and 375 H&H, probably 10 or 15 in 06, a 243 featherweight, 4 in 264 Win MAg and a 308 Win.
Right ow in addition to the 3 keepers I have a standard stock and I believe a 1951 30-06 standard target BBL. I would love to stumble across a rough cheap action. I know I have the cheapest portion in hand. If push comes to shove I may have the BBL cut back on the threaded end and have it fitted to a, some of you may want to gather up the kids and leave rather than reading whats next, a push feed post 63 action. It would make a nice and accurate hunting rifle.
I sold mine except for 3, all in 270 Win. My Dad's Standard, a Featherweight and a custom one. The "customization" was done before I got it.
I've had 2 different collections of pre 64's over the years. Several prewar with one a Super Grade, 2 in 257 Roberts, 8 or 10 in 270 Win, Supergrades 300 H&H and 375 H&H, probably 10 or 15 in 06, a 243 featherweight, 4 in 264 Win MAg and a 308 Win.
Right ow in addition to the 3 keepers I have a standard stock and I believe a 1951 30-06 standard target BBL. I would love to stumble across a rough cheap action. I know I have the cheapest portion in hand. If push comes to shove I may have the BBL cut back on the threaded end and have it fitted to a, some of you may want to gather up the kids and leave rather than reading whats next, a push feed post 63 action. It would make a nice and accurate hunting rifle.
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