1956 (I believe) Winchester Model 70|Page 3|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Louis Luttrell said
Hi Zeb and Deg-
As you both know, Pauline went to work for Winchester (apprenticing under Nick Kusmit) in 1979 and stayed through 1986.  So it’s obvious that a “signed” piece of Pauline’s engraving on a Pre-64 M70 is an aftermarket/outside commission. There are certainly genuine in-house M21 Grand Americans, M12 Pigeon Grades, etc. that were done by Pauline, but not a Pre-64 M70.  I just think it will “tastefully” dress up an already altered (jeweled) receiver.
I think that the only in-house engravers who could have done a pre-64 M70 were Alden George Ulrich (see the Spring 2025 Winchester Collector), John Kusmit, and Nick Kusmit.  Anyone else’s work would have been “outsourced” or “aftermarket”…
Speaking of the 70-5 pattern.  Here’s another of my Dad’s guns.  It’s pictured in R.L.Wilson’s Second Edition Winchester Engraving book.  It’s a 1949 270 WCF Super Grade (s/n 127935). 

Pauline says this one was done by John Kusmit and that it was done as an “outside job”.  I totally agree, as the gun has definitely been reblued after engraving (factory engravers worked on parts before they were blued in the first place).  Furthermore, the stock is far to plain to be a Custom Shop special order and is checkered in a non-standard pattern.  Interesting thing about the stock is that it is a Winchester factory Super Grade stock and the carving/checkering now on it cannot have been done to an already finished SG stock.  Best guess (???) is that the stock was “liberated” from the factory after the first two coats of finish but before it was ever checkered…  JK also did checkering/carving so it’s “possible” that he was the one who liberated the stock and checkered it, but there’s no way I know of proving/disproving it…
Except for the floor plate, this one is done in the 70-5 pattern.  Kusmit added a gold ram to the floor plate in lieu of the scroll, but the trigger guard scroll is 70-5.
So this one ain’t worth much, but I’m keeping it!!!
Lou
  

I want to add that Pauline is so well known within the collecting community that she is irrevocably connected with the Winchester brand. I seriously doubt her work on any Winchester firearm would cause the piece to be significantly downgraded in price just because it didnt go through the Custom Shop. 

Also, a number of Winchester guns, notably Model 21 shotguns, were returned to Winchester for upgrading – including engraving.. in those cases, the original bluing had to be polished off, the engraving executed, and the piece reblued..  

Louis Luttrell said
Hi Zeb and Deg-
As you both know, Pauline went to work for Winchester (apprenticing under Nick Kusmit) in 1979 and stayed through 1986.  So it’s obvious that a “signed” piece of Pauline’s engraving on a Pre-64 M70 is an aftermarket/outside commission. There are certainly genuine in-house M21 Grand Americans, M12 Pigeon Grades, etc. that were done by Pauline, but not a Pre-64 M70.  I just think it will “tastefully” dress up an already altered (jeweled) receiver.
I think that the only in-house engravers who could have done a pre-64 M70 were Alden George Ulrich (see the Spring 2025 Winchester Collector), John Kusmit, and Nick Kusmit.  Anyone else’s work would have been “outsourced” or “aftermarket”…
Speaking of the 70-5 pattern.  Here’s another of my Dad’s guns.  It’s pictured in R.L.Wilson’s Second Edition Winchester Engraving book.  It’s a 1949 270 WCF Super Grade (s/n 127935). 

Pauline says this one was done by John Kusmit and that it was done as an “outside job”.  I totally agree, as the gun has definitely been reblued after engraving (factory engravers worked on parts before they were blued in the first place).  Furthermore, the stock is far to plain to be a Custom Shop special order and is checkered in a non-standard pattern.  Interesting thing about the stock is that it is a Winchester factory Super Grade stock and the carving/checkering now on it cannot have been done to an already finished SG stock.  Best guess (???) is that the stock was “liberated” from the factory after the first two coats of finish but before it was ever checkered…  JK also did checkering/carving so it’s “possible” that he was the one who liberated the stock and checkered it, but there’s no way I know of proving/disproving it…
Except for the floor plate, this one is done in the 70-5 pattern.  Kusmit added a gold ram to the floor plate in lieu of the scroll, but the trigger guard scroll is 70-5.
So this one ain’t worth much, but I’m keeping it!!!
Lou
  

Lou, I follow your posts with great interest. I would say that having ” one of dads guns” is probably the beast thing a man could ever say!

Lou,  A photograph of you holding a Winslow Plainsmaster would be as embarrassing and strange as a photo of you out on the town in Savannah with The Lady Chablis. (1)

A Winslow, in its most offensive, optioned out grossness, made the “Deluxe” [standard] grade Weatherby Mark V look like it was designed by Rigby or Holland. (2)

As in other arts,  the “end of the bolt” Winslow was so outrageous it ended the California Style. 

If that movement had any good effect on American gunmaking design,  it can be seen in the works of the late Lenard Brownell,  Earl Milliron, and some other masters. Taking Milliron as an example, his stocks are in the classic style but so lithe they look almost alive, to paraphrase Jack O’Connor. 

__________________________

note 1.  With apologies to the memory of The Doll. The poor soul died in 2016. She made me laugh, against my will.

note 2.  I am actually fond of an early, Sauer-built Mark V 7mm Weatherby Magnum. Even in the more popular but hard-kicking .300 caliber, the stock design really does ease recoil effect.

TXGunNut said
Maybe it’s something in the water in Commiefornia. I’m glad our members who still reside there seem to be immune. Maybe they’ve demonstrated the good taste of sticking to the excellent wines made out there. Gonna have to Google Winslow after my walk. I think the neighborhood pups are patiently waiting for their treats!
 
 
Mike
  

Herewith, images of the Winslow Plainsmaster and a custom rifle by Tom Burgess (metal) and Earl Milliron (stock)

Lenard Brownell No. 59

Tedk said
A couple more pics…the unobtainium, signature M70 LB bases and rings that complete the rifle were donated by Lou

  

Ted, you need to stop it. You’re giving me a heart attack!  For me, Len Brownell was the Master. Everybody has his own opinion who is or was the best American Classic custom riflemaker. Some prefer the high styles of Miller, Winter, Weibe, Churchill, Echols et al. – all of whom are deservedly revered. 

But the works of Al Biesen and Len Brownell are, for me, the perfect blend of style, peerless execution, and practical for use in the field, with a slight preference for the shapes of Brownell’s stocks.

Your rifle is exactly what I would have ordered if Lenard had lived long enough for me to afford a piece of his work. 

I’m not saying I would kill for your rifle but I might be tempted to maim and rob. The closest Ive ever been able to get to a real Brownell is this Ruger #1 .22 hornet. 

Deg said
Is a Brownell Rifle any kin to Brownell’s Shooters Supply
  

Dan,  I don’t believe so. The Brownell family that owns and operates the gunsmithing supply house are Iowans, and the late Lenard Brownell who was a custom gunmaker was a native of Wyoming. While living in different states is not a disqualification for shared DNA, I’ve never heard the families are closely related. 

Or buy this one.  More rounded.  I prefer the flat ones for our antiques.  Not sure what a Model 70 would use?

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005869757?srsltid=AfmBOoom_Or3cevJE3bL60kHmiMAfz0NKc-z-gGPgU0MXHEwJN89Rnxq&pid=976407