Lou's M70 Super Grade school|Page 3|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Zebulon said
I have a 1948 Winchester Model 70, original caliber unknown, that was “upgraded to Super Grade configuration” by replacing its original stock with a post-1953 Super Grade stock, disposing of its original barrel and installing a new 26′ sightless, varmint weight, SAKO barrel chambered for the (then wildcat) 22-250 cartridge. (In the Fifties, SAKO barrels were prized for their accuracy and the company offered a line of unchambered barrels in various profiles and calibers to custom gunmakers.)
In excellent condition, including a fine Leupold VariX II 3-9 Scope in Leupold rings and one piece base, I bought it off a consignment rack for $700 a couple of years ago. 
That’s a lot closer to reality than what those two sold for, I think, but its a free country. 
“Buy the gun, not the auction literature.” 
  

I’ve been collecting rings and bases because I find the best deals in lots. While trying to buy the scope you mentioned, I’ve yet to find one I could get for what you purchased that rife for.  Maybe I’ve read too many of Burt’s posts, I have yet to purchase a collectible rifle. I wouldn’t buy an F150 xlt that someone else installed the lariat package in.  Unless it was 50 years old and I got a deal. 

Zebulon said
A couple of weeks ago, I found a 99.9% Smith & Wesson 22/32 Target revolver on consignment and bought it because I like pre-83 Smith revolvers. Its only flaw was a set of Pachmayr rubber grips. Go figure. 
Lee’s Gun Parts is a small storefront in a downmarket part of Irving. It looks like a junkyard inside but if you need a set of original square butt J-frame Magna service stocks, Walnut with silver S&W medallions, Lee has a box full of them in various conditions. The photo shows the gun with its “new” stocks.
These stocks from Lee tell us something about my collecting standards. I picked them out of several possibles because of the wood color and grain and because I’ve always found the diamond-shaped bezel attractive. 
I am aware Smith & Wesson eliminated the bezel in or around 1964 and that my 22/32 Target was made in 1972 or 1973. 
 
There were other “more correct” stocks in Lee’s piled-high box – no bezel – but they were made of yellowish sapwood Walnut, not the darker heartwood, and I like the bezel. 
 
After I installed the new stocks and was putting away my tools, a feeling of guilt and shame came over me, realizing I was not perfect in the eyes of the God of Originality. I took the little revolver back out of it’s BoreStore and, as I admired it and thought about the next range session, the feeling disappeared and hasn’t returned. 
  

I agree 100%. I need to start shopping in Texas   This thread for the super grades, I was just showing a couple I watched at auction, that were not original and brought more money than I would pay. I have a post 64 I’m 338 WM that I’ve posted about.  SimpsonLTD has one identical almost that they’re asking twice what I paid. Even getting it from RIA. I thought they went pretty high for what they were 

Adam-

Regarding those two RIA Lots…  First, I don’t tend to accept any auction house description as accurate (for good or ill)…  They simply don’t know much of the time…  Moreover, after getting a bad reputation about a decade ago for selling badly done fake M70s as originals for big $$$, my sense is that RIA has become a bit “gun shy” in some of their descriptions.  So my advice is to evaluate the gun, not the description…

These guns are in RIA Auction 5028 if anyone wants to look at them…

Lot 2713:  220 Swift Super Grade s/n 299543.  I’m not convinced it’s been upgraded… The change in Super Grade metal finishes happened in 1955.  This is a 1954 gun.  Metal finishes should be the same as a Standard rifle, i.e. no jeweling, no “SUPER” stamped under the barrel, etc.  The stock on the gun is the low “swept cheekpiece” comb variant that Winchester came out with in 1952 when they introduced the Monte Carlo.  So the stock is contemporary and the metal finishes are most likely OK.  The rear sight is a “low 22K”, which is also correct for a low comb M70 made after 1953 or so…  If the gun had the right < SUPER GRADE > floor plate and a Redfield 255 (0.360″ tall) front sight, then I think it would “pass” for a correct 1954 Super Grade (upgraded or not).

Lot 728: 22 Hornet Super Grade s/n 69549.  I don’t see any problems with this one either…  It’s a 1947 transition gun.  Again, it should have the same metal finishes as a Standard rifle of the time. No jeweling, Du-Lite blue barrel, etc.  The stock is a correct oval cheekpiece Super Grade stock (different from the above), and it appears to be inlet for the cloverleaf tang action.  That’s a HARD stock to find…  On this one the rear sight appears to be a Winchester 22G, which is correct for pre-1952 (but not 1954).  So the same things apply…  Does it have a correct “H” stamped < SUPER GRADE > floor plate (try finding one of those!!!) and a Redfield 254 (0.310″ tall) front sight?  If so then it’s “correct” (upgraded or not).

I can’t say whether the guns have been refinished (they look OK), and knowing about the unseen parts would be key to forming an opinion.  But had I been in search of a Super Grade in either of those calibers those two would have been worth getting additional information about…  

Just my take,

Lou