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December 13, 2006
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About how many were made with 24” barrels?
Not many, me-thinks!)
August 8, 2024
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I agree not many. But, lately I have seen more that I have had concerns with. Pre 64.com recently listed some that were equipped with non factory barrels, and listed as that. Over the years I have seen less then a hand full that I thought were correct. Wayne Miller had a .308 FW with a 24 inch barrel. It was one that I thought was correct. It was sold to a well known Model 70 Collector who just happens to be a WACA member. Guess who?
November 5, 2014
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Hi Jim-
The 24-inch barreled Featherweight was specifically offered as an option in the 1952-54 catalogs. I agree with you and Bob that they must not have sold many, and the option was dropped before the Featherweight was offered in anything except 308 WIN. In surveying, I have only run across four that I thought were genuine (including the one in Rule’s book), plus about that many fabricated ones… The highest serial numbered one I’ve seen to date is in the 240,000 range.
As for Wayne’s 24-inch Featherweight, the S/N is 219278, one of the lowest Featherweight serial numbers recorded, as Featherweights don’t become common until around S/N 222,000. I know that the person Wayne sold it to is NOT the collector who purchased his special order 308 WIN Bull Gun… 
I do not know why the Forum site stopped displaying thumbnails in the text a week or so ago… 
For those eagle eyed and critical viewers, the wonky “FEATHERWEIGHT” letters and extra dash in “MODEL-70-FEATHERWEIGHT” is a “real” roll die used in some early 308 WIN Featherweights. Most 308 WIN Featherweights, unlike all other Featherweight chamberings, are usually marked “MODEL-70 FEATHERWEIGHT” (without the extra dash).
If you find another genuine 24-inch Featherweight I hope you’ll tell me the S/N and whether it’s got a MC or LC stock (for the survey)… 
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
December 13, 2006
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Thanks guys . . .
For the record, I have an early 1952 Featherweight (#221891) 22” barrel, 308 caliber, of course.
It does NOT have the extra hyphen in the roll mark.
November 5, 2014
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Jim-
Low comb or Monte Carlo, and what rear sight is on it? For the survey…
This is my earliest 22-inch Featherweight. Low comb, S/N 224336. It may provoke howls of disagreement, but in he early catalogs, the Featherweight was both pictured and described as having a folding rear sight (Marbles 69) regardless of stock style. I believe that this is correct. The tall version of the 22K “sporting” style sight for low comb Featherweights came about in 1954, so starts showing up on later 1953 receivers. Of course, I could be mistaken!!!
Note that this one doesn’t have the extra hyphen either. I was worried about it, but I’ve since found about a half dozen early ones (22-inch barrel) marked with that die. Look at Photo 4-32 in Rule’s book (you might need to open your hard copy as the image reproduction in the paperback edition is lousy). That one shows the “dash” on a barrel he said is dated ’52…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
December 13, 2006
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Lou . . .
Monte Carlo . . .rear sight looks just like yours.
As an interesting note (to me!) . . . .
I have the original bill of sale for this gem . . . .
”Purchased in 1952, from Haggetts’ (hardware store) in Concord, New Hampshire, $120”.
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