1967 Model 70 questions|Page 2|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Louis Luttrell said
Hi Boe-
As far as dating your rifle…  The serial number lookup tool on this site is based on Polishing Room (Serial Number Application Date) records.  This is the date the serial number was applied to the RECEIVER.  For 1967 it was 855861 through 873694, and for 1968 it was 873695 through 929990.  However, SNA date is NOT “rifle manufacture” date, as serialized receivers usually sat around for a while before being used to build rifles.  Moreover, receivers were not necessarily used in numerical order by the assemblers.  The true “assembly date” is unknown/unknowable (no surviving records), but for popular calibers/non-specialized receivers it would be within a few months of the PR date.
In other words, if your rifle has a late 1967 serial number it was almost certainly built in 1968.  Also, as Bert said, the GCA68 was passed in November 1968 so wasn’t implemented until sometime in 1969.  I do not know the serial number of the first “G” receiver, but your rifle would predate it whether it was made in 1967 or 1968.
I do not know about the minor changes to post-63 trigger guards (or their finishes) beyond what Roger Rule stated in his book.  On pre-64 M70 Featherweights (1952-1963), it’s not uncommon for the black anodized (not plated) guards and floor plates to not match in terms of polish/sheen.  Apparently the “painted” aluminum trigger guards used from 1964-1967 were very poor matches for the floor plates, hence the change to black chrome in an effort to improve appearance.  If I really wanted them to match, I think I would find a shop that does black chrome plating (preferably on gun parts) and have them re-plate BOTH the trigger guard and floor plate.  I suspect that the (grit of final) polish would have more of an impact on appearance than the exact color.  
I do not know the exact procedure used to install the plugs, but I suspect they were glued in place BEFORE the final stock sanding and BEFORE finish was applied.  At least on pre-64 Africans (which used similar Bakelite plugs), the lacquer finish covers both the wood and plug.  Just as it’s possible to install a good fitting recoil pad to an already finished stock without refinishing the stock, it should be possible to replace the plugs, get them flush, and overlay a bit of lacquer without it being noticeable as long as the plugs themselves are black (like the originals). It just takes time/patience.  The factory didn’t need to worry about it b/c the plugs went in before the stock was finished. You’d have to decide whether to replace just the cracked one or both.  
As for impact on value.  First off, post-63 Model 70s, especially those from the 1960s, have little “collector” interest as the design and cosmetic changes introduced in 1964 are a turn off for most “pre-64 centric” collectors.  So the rifle isn’t particularly “valuable” to begin with.  264 WIN MAGNUM was pretty popular (not “rare”), although the near new condition of your rifle is a plus.  What you have is likely to be an excellent/accurate shooting/hunting rifle, not a “collector’s prize”.  In general, I think these guns are somewhere in the $800-1000 range in excellent condition, but that’s just my non-scientific guesstimate…
So as long as your repairs are well executed (improve the appearance of the rifle) I doubt they would have any negative impact on resale value.
Just my take,
Lou
  

 Hi Lou

Thank you for all the information on the model 70.  Your post answered many of question I had about the production of the rifle.  As far as price,  your estimate is about what I was thinking it was worth.  I want to keep it in the same condition as it left the factory. I’ll pass it on to my son.

Even though I build modern Custom Rifles every day I still enjoy working on the these old classic rifles.  I bought this Rifle because it brought back many old memories of my younger days hunting with my first Winchester model 70.  I doubt I’ll hunt with this one,  Just getting it out and looking at it is enough for me.  Thank you Lou.