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Saw this today. seems like a pretty good deal. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/winchester-rifles-model-70-pre-64/winchester-model-70-300-win-mag.cfm?gun_id=103543927#gallery-103543927-lg-1
August 8, 2024
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Yes, I saw the rifle as well. The condition is not very good. Hence the lower price.
December 12, 2019
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Bo Rich said
Yes, I saw the rifle as well. The condition is not very good. Hence the lower price.
Bo, I’m not questioning your judgement, but instead trying to educate myself on some of the things to look for.
I though this was a pretty good specimen ‘if original’. I was waiting for some of the experts here to weigh in on any signs of the rifle having been altered ( I don’t see anything), but otherwise thought it to be pretty good.
I see some rust spots on the floor plate and some nicks around the checkering, plus what looks like handling wear around the pistol grip. Is there more that I’m missing? Or is this enough to base your opinion of ‘not very good’.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
Nevada Paul
Life Member NRA
August 8, 2024
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The stock is in poor shape. I can’ t see the barrel metal very good. But, it appears to have rust spots through out the metal. I don’t think that it is priced badly for what it is. Most collectors would pass on it and spend more on a nicer example. But, then again cheap Winchesters always have a market. This mostly applies to the beginner who is looking for an example, and may not have the funds yet to buy a higher grade rifle.
November 5, 2014
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Hi Paul-
I’ll defer to the “experts” whomever the are…
There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the gun insofar as the parts being correct for the time frame. I suspect that the stock has been stripped and oil finished (or some such) given the dullness and open wood pores. I suspect that it got “damp” at some point leading to the freckling on the metal, and that probably the sprayed on lacquer wood finish flaked off as it was prone to do, especially around the butt. Hence the strip/refinish job…
It could be made to look better with a little TLC, but it won’t be “original”…
Just my take,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
August 14, 2021
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IDK, I like it, I’ll gladly take that out into the woods for pigs. I don’t need a 70 that looks like it just left the factory. I won’t spend $2k on it tho.
November 5, 2014
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Here’s a better one condition-wise…
My Westerner-Alaskans are s/n 562444 and 578984. The latter was one of Bob Porter’s guns and has a factory sightless barrel. Make of it what you will… 
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
December 12, 2019
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Louis Luttrell said
Hi Paul-
I’ll defer to the “experts” whomever the are…
There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the gun insofar as the parts being correct for the time frame. I suspect that the stock has been stripped and oil finished (or some such) given the dullness and open wood pores. I suspect that it got “damp” at some point leading to the freckling on the metal, and that probably the sprayed on lacquer wood finish flaked off as it was prone to do, especially around the butt. Hence the strip/refinish job…
It could be made to look better with a little TLC, but it won’t be “original”…
Just my take,
Lou
Thank you, Lou. You certainly are pointing out several things that I missed which keep the referenced gun from being ‘original’. And that is what I really wanted to learn.
The $2K price definitely seems high for a non-original. My initial opinion was that it was probably a $1200-$1500 gun in this condition ‘if original’. But both Cabelas and GI are going to seek a premium above what most folks here would consider a ‘good price’.
NP
Nevada Paul
Life Member NRA
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