Alaskan |Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Hi Montana-

I assume we’re talking about the pre-64 M70 Alaskans…

“Alaskan” was a marketing term Winchester coined with the introduction of the 338 WIN MAGNUM chambering in 1959.  Once coined, it was applied to the Standard Grade rifles chambering in 338 WIN MAGNUM and 375 H&H MAGNUM from 1960-1963.

The distinguishing features of the 338 WIN MAGNUN Alaskan (besides the chambering) were a 25″ standard contour barrel (with the typical barrel boss for rear sight) and a factory installed recoil pad.  The stocks were all Monte Carlo and initially hand checkered.  At the time they were the only rifle in the catalog with a standard contour barrel and factory solid red recoil pad:

Late in production, around 1962, they got the narrow machine cut checkering and ventilated recoil pad:

As for the 375 H&H MAGNUM, there was nothing different between the pre-1960 375 H&H MAGNUM “Standard Rifle” and the post-1959 375 H&H MAGNUM “Alaskan” except for the word “Alaskan” on the box label and an increase in price.  Monte Carlo stock with red rubber recoil pad along with a 25″ tapered C-1 contour barrel and Win 70B “rollover” sight in a base attached by two screws:

Finally, during the one year cataloged (1963) the 300 WIN MGNUM was pictured in the catalog under the “Westerner-Alaskan” banner, but was not marked “Alaskan” on the box.  They are not generally considered to be “Alaskans”, but it’s all kind of semantic anyway.  Since they were only made in 1962-3 they all have the narrow panel checkering and ventilated recoil pad.  The only thing that distinguishes them in external appearance from the late 338 WIN MAGNUM Alaskan is that the barrel on the 300 WIN MAGNUM is only 24″ long:

Hope this helps…

Lou