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April 17, 2009
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I ask because i just came across a 1965 M70 in 375 H&H with the original box. When i look closely, the lands and grooves look like they are still blued and there is no thinning at the crown or any evidence of copper anywhere. The rifle looks new and has never had a scope mounted on it.
Just curious and thanks for the help,
April 15, 2005
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Chip,
As I have mentioned on this forum in the past, there is No such thing as an “unfired” Winchester firearm. If your rifle has factory sights on it, it was fired 1 – 10 shots to set the sights after it was proof fired. Winchester cleaned the bores immediately after firing the guns, then sent them to the warehouse to be boxed and sold.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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centennial! said
Is there a way to tell if a rifle has been fired? I understand they are before they are proofed but afterwards, is there a way to tell? Does it even matter on a rifle that is in as new or perfect condition?
I ask because i just came across a 1965 M70 in 375 H&H with the original box. When i look closely, the lands and grooves look like they are still blued and there is no thinning at the crown or any evidence of copper anywhere. The rifle looks new and has never had a scope mounted on it.
Just curious and thanks for the help,Chip
I don’t know anything about the Model 70. Is the bore supposed to be blued? One of the experts will know.
May 2, 2009
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I think the answer is in this thread.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
April 17, 2009
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Thank you all for the input, much appreciated. Like i said, it’s a 1965 and not high on the “collector” list for most. Just curious as much as anything else. Fired after purchase or not, it’s still a beautiful rifle and as new looking as any new rifle i have purchase. Im proud to have it.
Again, thank you all very much.
Chip
May 13, 2020
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The “unfired” claims are similar to the “original box” claims and meant to do the same thing: convince a buyer that the gun is in excellent, 99.9% condition or better. It’s meant to pull on your emotions and analogies to other areas you know about. The idea being if a gun is still in it’s shipping box, it was never sold, or if sold, sat in an owners closet for 45-75 years, untouched by human hands. The “unfired” goes back a little further, and is a quantitative condition factor (the box situation isn’t).
But either way, NEITHER matters. What matters is the CONDITION of the gun. If a gun is worn some from handling, use, and sitting in a box, and is at 89% finish condition, some people today now assign it a better condition. Which is a fools errand. You can’t make a 89% gun “better condition” because someone found a cardboard box to put it in. You can’t say a 97% gun is “unfired”, though people try to do that. I have a few guns I’ve fired hundreds of times over decades of ownership. Yet because I keep them very well, many would look and say “wow! It looks unfired!” Yep, it’s in 99% condition. But certainly fired.
November 19, 2006
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It’s sort of amusing. If someone asks me if I can look at their Winchester and determine if it is unfired or not, I answer, “absolutely I can.” And then I add I am so skilled, I can give them a 100% accurate answer without even seeing the firearm. 
November 7, 2015
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My brother has a (post-64) model 70 given to him nearly 40 years ago by his wife. He is fastidious about keeping it wiped down and clean, few would know it has been on dozens, if not hundreds, of hunting trips. I gave him a stainless Ruger a few years back and nowadays he takes it when weather is wet or nasty. His Winchester won’t pass for “unfired” but it’s easily 95% or better. Our old Winchesters were often working guns. I like an honest gun that has had a bad day or two, just like I have. I don’t have much use for a gun that still has a hang tag and a box. Too many are fake and the very few honest ones have no character or soul. I collect Winchesters to try to connect with someone who long ago hunted, needed protection or just had a good time at the range. A new gun in a box has likely done none of those things.
At my age I have no use for a virgin, I like a woman who knows how to make a man happy. My taste in Winchesters is generally the same.
Mike
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