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November 6, 2020
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Hello all.
Long time surfer here, but new join and post… I was hoping someone might be able to help me track down some information on my rifle.
I have a pretty pristine Model 70 in 270 WCF. I looked specifically for this pre “270 WIN” stamping as my grandfather had a similar rifle, being a Jack O’Connor fan. Anyway, I found one some time ago at an online auction and snagged it for a very fair price. This was an estate gun, but the seller has not responded to my inquiries as to where in general it came from.
The serial number places it in 1949, and it came with a 1951 Weaver K-4 (with the German post reticle) on a Redfield single base (standard windage and dovetail). It also came with an original M1917 sling that was so saturated with what appeared to be neat’s-foot oil that it was unusable. The pictures on the site were fair, but honestly did not do it justice.
When the rifle arrived I noticed right away that it had no wear. The plumb fade on the bolt shroud and handle is very nice, and there is zero wear on the bolt or handle. 100% faded blueing. There is zero muzzle wear. There is some minor wear on the boltways, and there is a patch of minor pitting on the bolt itself. The extractor is blued and shows no wear at all. Neither does the bolt face. The action is matte, and the bottom metal and barrel are gloss blued and spotless. There are some minor (what looks like) safe storage wear marks near the muzzle end of the barrel and that’s about it. It still has it’s front sight hood attached. The checkering is sharp and very defined, and the wood has good color figuring. There are only one or two minor dings in it.
The rifle came with a “Kerr Sport Shop, Beverly Hills, CA” recoil pad instead of the metal buttplate, and the recoil pad still has some of the factory rubber whiskers on it. I couldn’t really find anything about the sport shop, as it appears to be out of business now. It looks like this rifle may have just sat in a safe for 60 or 70 years, but was kept well oiled and cared for.
I live in the southwest and generally hunt large game with a 270 Weatherby and a Razor, but my plan is to put this old girl to use. I’ve replaced the K-4 (though I kept it and it’s base and rings) with a VX3i (Leupold was my grandfather’s favorite) and Leupold standard/dovetail bases and rings. But before I start working up loads and dirty the barrel I thought I’d post up on here and see if anyone might have any insight on it.
I can’t find a way to post up the photos I have of it, I’m assuming because it’s my first post. But if someone can let me know how to do that I’ll put them up, if it helps.
Thanks for any assistance.
Congrats on what sounds like a nice rifle & that .270 Win chambering is a “WINner”!!! Looking forward to ‘the pix!’ Can’t answer your question about timing to achieve pix-posting stripes. From the narrative box as I’m typing now, there’s an “Upload Attachments” dialogue box, lower left. Need to click & follow instructions. Pretty easy & uncomplicated. Your photos may need to be in JPG format. All mine are and work well. I’ve not used anything else
Someone should be along to answer your ‘stripes reqd to post’ query. Any case you should have ‘launch key & codes’ shortly, I’d assume!
Welcome, thanks for the Thread & looking forward to those pix! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Best & Stay Safe!
John
November 5, 2014
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Hi Archie-
Sounds like a nice classic M70 in a classic Winchester caliber. 
The caliber designation changed from “270 WCF” to “270 WIN” with the advent of the Style 3C (one piece) barrel roll marking die in 1950. Since the date of manufacture obtained from this site refers to the polishing room date (year that the serial number was applied to the unfinished receiver) NOT the year that receiver was used to assemble a rifle, it’s likely that you have one of the earliest rifles to be marked “270 WIN” and that it was assembled in 1950. Barrel date (under the chamber) would probably be ’50 and it would still have the integral milled front sight ramp (that is preferred by many).
I don’t know much about Kerr Sport Shop except that is was in operation from about 1936-1969 and catered to “celebrity” sportsmen in Beverly Hills CA. If you didn’t find them there are a couple of architectural shots at this UCSB museum site:
http://www.adc-exhibits.museum.ucsb.edu/items/show/233
Maybe you gun was originally purchased by an actor or movie mogul who had Kerr fit a recoil pad even before they took delivery???
As for posting pics, as John (iskra) said, when logged in there should be an “upload attachments” window at the bottom of the screen below the “smileys” where you can drag/drop the files you want to upload. It works best with .jpg files that are <1 MB in size. Sometimes it seems to take a while for the system to recognize new members and get this working. So if you still aren’t seeing the window you ought to reach out to the site administrators and get them to fix it for you!!!
Look forward to seeing photos!!!
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
November 6, 2020
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Thanks Lou. But just to clarify, my rifle is actually marked “270 WCF” with a 105XXX serial number…. Wouldn’t that pre-date the 1950 “270 WIN” barrel roll and be in the “transitional” range? I was thinking it might be one of the last batches to have the “WCF” identification. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
Thanks very much for the architectural shots of Kerr’s. I’m sure you are probably right. It’s an interesting and good looking rifle, at least to my eye. Hopefully I can get some pics up so everyone can see and chime in.
Archie
November 5, 2014
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Hi Archie-
According to Roger Rule’s book S/N 105xxx would have been an early 1949 assembly gun, so a 270 WCF barrel marking in the 3A or 3B style would be most likely. Pretty much the last year for that caliber designation, as you correctly state.
If we get this photo posting thing sorted I’d like to see a photo of the barrel marking (and also the full S/N for my survey). FWIW I’ve never seen a style 3B marking in 270 WCF — only 30 GOV’T’06 and 300 SAVAGE. So it would be interesting (to me at least). Your gun is probably marked with style 3A, but I’m always looking for the odd balls.
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Archie said
The serial number places it in 1949, and it came with a 1951 Weaver K-4 (with the German post reticle) on a Redfield single base (standard windage and dovetail). It also came with an original M1917 sling that was so saturated with what appeared to be neat’s-foot oil that it was unusable.
To each his own, but K-4s & K-6s have always been my favorite scopes, because, among other reasons (like Weaver’s outstanding service policy), they were still built with steel tubes long after other makers switched to alum. Nothing suits any classic bolt-action better, unless it’s a Noske or Lyman Alaskan.
Few things worse for leather than neatsfoot–which eventually turns rancid (acidic) & breaks down the leather. You might be able to salvage your sling by soaking it in a solvent like toluene (lacquer thinner). Suspect it’s probably a M1907 dated 1917, & if so, WELL worth trying to restore–good ones bring $100+ from mil collectors.
My two boyhood heroes were O’Connor & Townsend Whelen, when they were both writing regular columns in outdoor mags; not much published by either I don’t have.
November 6, 2020
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To each his own, but K-4s & K-6s have always been my favorite scopes, because, among other reasons (like Weaver’s outstanding service policy), they were still built with steel tubes long after other makers switched to alum. Nothing suits any classic bolt-action better, unless it’s a Noske or Lyman Alaskan.
Clarence I 100% agree. My main elk rifle (before this one) is a 1949 FN Commercial Belgian Mauser that was rechambered by Roy Weatherby from 270 Win to 270 WBY in 1951. It’s a four-digit serial number. It came with a fixed 4X Kollmorgen scope on Stith adjustable mounts that I’ve shot 3 elk with out to 405 and I will not change it out. I love old steel tubes with German reticles. The problem with the scope on the Winchester was that it had dulled and clouded to the point that – though I prefer it – just was not as usable as the VX3i.
Archie
Archie said
The problem with the scope on the Winchester was that it had dulled and clouded to the point that – though I prefer it – just was not as usable as the VX3i.
40 yrs ago, Weaver would have cleaned & refurbished that scope (including rebluing) at a service charge so low it was almost free. I know nothing about the company now, except that most old US companies are a pathetic shadow of what they once were. Are Weaver scopes still made in this country? Even products marked “made in USA” may be assembled using foreign components.
November 6, 2020
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clarence said 40 yrs ago, Weaver would have cleaned & refurbished that scope (including rebluing) at a service charge so low it was almost free. I know nothing about the company now, except that most old US companies are a pathetic shadow of what they once were. Are Weaver scopes still made in this country? Even products marked “made in USA” may be assembled using foreign components.
Clarence, I think most Weaver optics are made in Japan since the 1980s. Sad to say.
Archie
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