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Howdy folks,
I was looking at a Post Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 Springfield that’s for sale ($390.00) and was trying to run the serial number 869805, but the “When was Your Winchester Made?” resource on the forum website reported “Date Not Found”
I got conflicting dates on other sites. If anyone has and information or advice I would really appreciate it.
Thanks
Bill
Bill,
Late in the year 1967. In 1968, Winchester began using the “G” serial prefix to be in compliance with the GCA of 1968.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Late in the year 1967.
Bert, thank you for the help. That gives me something to do research on. Price seems to be okay’ish for its condition from what I can tell.
Speaking out of turn here, offering information/opinion not solicited…
The 1964 -1967 Model 70 production tends to be considered a low point in the entire Model 70 era, 1936 to date. Design, production compromises, materials, quality control; all generally conceded to reflect low point. Rifles in this era, low price not necessarily reflective of ‘bargain’. Looking beyond simply the ‘condition’, may I suggest considering carefully before such era purchase. “Investment”, not.
The “pre ’64 Model 70 Winchester quality speaks for itself with prices reflective, though a decent condition field gun, generally not too pricey. Yet also, the 1968 + Model 70 genre, a return step toward quite decent guns. Stock designs, materials and workmanship – notably improved. Simply the design change featuring a slotted bolt head; new method of restoring smoother feeding; ‘stuff’ like that. These later rifles seem to sell decently without being appreciably greater in price than your shopping, perhaps more just a matter of ‘knowledgeable’ buyers.
Pardon if I’m stepping on toes here. The old saying… You pay your money & you take your choice! True!
Good Luck & Best!
John
iskra said
The 1964 -1967 Model 70 production tends to be considered a low point in the entire Model 70 era, …. Looking beyond simply the ‘condition’, may I suggest considering carefully before such era purchase. “Investment”, not…..Pardon if I’m stepping on toes here. …
John, You are not stepping on my toes at all, as a matter of fact, the opposite is true. I appreciate the help and info I get from the folks on this forum, it helps keep me from making bad mistakes.
I know little about Winchester’s, maybe a bad word here but I have always been a Remington and Mauser person. I own only three Winchesters and the last two are recent acquisitions (Post M70 varmint .243W and Pre-64 M70 (1940) abused .30-06).
This was not a purchase I was considering an investment buy, rather I was looking at it as a hunting rifle. I know that I can buy a Ruger American, Savage XP, even a Mauser M18 -new- for the same price but for me there is nothing like toting an old rifle around. Besides I have more than enough new year 20XX rifles in my safe.
The question I fielded her was when was this rifle manufacture so I could gauge better what it is, its history, and of course value -vs- the purchase price.
But thank you for all of your information and advice, I appreciate all of it.
iskra said
Yet also, the 1968 + Model 70 genre, a return step toward quite decent guns. Stock designs, materials and workmanship – notably improved. Simply the design change featuring a slotted bolt head; new method of restoring smoother feeding; ‘stuff’ like that.
Best examination of bolt-action design & function I know of is Stuart Otteson’s 1976 book “The Bolt Action”; comparing the ’68 M70 with the pre-’64, he says “on a point by point analysis, the new Model 70 comes out on top in almost every respect.” It’s true the “new Model 70” was cheaper to manufacture (who needs a one piece bolt?), but that didn’t mean it was inferior.
clarence said
Best examination of bolt-action design & function I know of is Stuart Otteson’s 1976 book “The Bolt Action”; comparing the ’68 M70 with the pre-’64, he says “on a point by point analysis, the new Model 70 comes out on top in almost every respect.” It’s true the “new Model 70” was cheaper to manufacture (who needs a one piece bolt?), but that didn’t mean it was inferior.
I read about the early post 64’s and how they fell out of favor, but in all the reading I don’t recall anyone witing that the rifle was less accurate or reliable, so reading what you wrote really makes a lot of sense. As a hunting rifle it there was a difference between the per and early posts’ I don’t think it made much of a difference, both took game the same. I’m not a target shooter so I doubt that I would choose a pre or early post, even one made in the 90’s for target shooting in the first place.
I looked the rifle over and shes a ‘sweety’ just a bit of worn blue on the barrel. So I guess what it really boils down to, that is IF you are not a collector; does the rifle appeal to the shooter, is the condition acceptable, is it able to shoot a Minute Of Deer, and is it worth the price?
For me the first three are true, it appeals to me as it feels nice in the hand and weight wise I could carry her all day in the field without issue. it’s just the $390.00 price tag that I trying to justify in my mind and if I REALLY want another .30-06 or a different caliber. They seem to go for that price and higher on GunBroker
Bill, Back in the early 90’s I bought a well used but original 1953 Model 70 in 300 H&H. I used it for my hunts in Wisconsin,Michigan, and Wyoming ever since without a problem or complaint. The big plus has been how it handles the Wyoming dust and grit, I mean the fine dirt that makes your pickup windows squeak. Some of the guys I hunt with have post 64 Model 70’s and they had action problems, I didn’t. That cloud of dust behind your pickup when you drive down a dirt road in Wyoming is a problem for all tightly machined actions but not the old Model 70’s. T/R
TR said
Bill, Back in the early 90’s I bought a well used but original 1953 Model 70 in 300 H&H. I used it for my hunts in Wisconsin,Michigan, and Wyoming ever since without a problem or complaint. The big plus has been how it handles the Wyoming dust and grit, I mean the fine dirt that makes your pickup windows squeak. Some of the guys I hunt with have post 64 Model 70’s and they had action problems, I didn’t. That cloud of dust behind your pickup when you drive down a dirt road in Wyoming is a problem for all tightly machined actions but not the old Model 70’s. T/R
T/R, This is the kind of information that is golden and invaluable! There is nothing worse than being in the field with a rifle that has issues. Thank you!
Bill, The old Model 70 has the big claw extractor that will pull out any hot hand loaded cartridge, which can be a plus in a severe environment. To clean: pull the bolt and squirt it with Rem Oil, drop the floor plate and do the same, wipe the bolt channel, and run a patch. No clip to loose, no plastic to degrade, just the perfect tool for the job. I think the big trick is to find one that’s original and has not been messed with, they were good guns when they left the factory. My gun today is worth twice what I paid for it. If you take care of it, don’t mess with it, it can be a life time gun and maybe an investment. T/R
TR said
…. I think the big trick is to find one that’s original and has not been messed with, they were good guns when they left the factory….
TR, I have a 1940 Model 70 in 30.06 that I have been fixing up. It was pretty abused by whoever owned it before. She was missing the extractor, extractor pin, and spring, front and rear sights, the stock needed a bunch of help and even had a deteriorated recoil pad (hard and brittle). The right side of the receiver had holes drilled and threaded in it. For now, I just put filler plugs but will at some point have them filled. Luckily the bore is pristine. I found a stock that had not been cut down and still has the steel buttplate for $50.00. BUT did have initials carved into the bottom of the grip.
With the replacement parts, replacement stock, and vintage scope mount, I’m at around $190.00 total cost for the rifle. I’ve got her almost done, all of the mechanical stuff is done, even have a new Leupold 3×9 (not included in the $190.00, it cost just about as much as the rifle even with my veteran discount) on the shelf for her. She just needs about 3 more coats of polymerized Raw Linseed Oil and she’s good. I’ll put up the completed pictures when I get her back together.
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