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Hello all!
I have a few Model 70’s that I am considering selling, but I want to make sure everything is accounted for and I am not misleading anyone when I am ready to list them. I also want to make sure I am not overlooking anything that causes me to under/over value them. I am fairly new to Pre 64 Model 70’s and there seems to be a lot of nuances that I will surely miss. Here is what I have…
SN 1224xx, 300 Magnum, Super Grade – Super Grade Stock, Super Grade marking on plate, Jeweled bolt
SN 3345xx, 220 Swift, Super Grade – Super Grade Stock, Super Grade marking on plate, Jeweled bolt
SN 571xx, 375 Magnum, Standard Grade – Super Grade Stock, No marking on plate, No Jeweled bolt
SN 1536xx, 375 Magnum, Standard Grade – Standard Stock, plate and bolt
All are in fantastic condition…
I can email pictures to anyone that might be able to help, or I can post them here later tonight…
I’m excited to hear all about them!
November 5, 2014
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Hi Kevin-
A proper answer is going to require photos of your rifles. Likewise, a full discourse on what makes a Super Grade period correct would take an illustrated book chapter. Too many nuances, like sight height and SUPER GRADE type font, that varied over time. Some of this stuff isn’t even covered in Roger Rule’s excellent book. But I’ll offer some generalities…
From 1936 through 1954, roughly up until S/N 320,000-ish, the only features that discriminated a Super Grade from a Standard rifle were the stock, floor plate, and front sight. In other words, the metal finishes, e.g. barrel, receiver and bolt, were the same. Pre-war guns (standard and SG) had rust blued barrels, post-war guns had Du-Lite blued barrels. Bolts were not regularly engine turned (jeweled). Hence SGs made prior to 1955 are usually not marked “SUPER” under the barrel nor do they typically have the “backwards S” stamp on the bottom of the recoil lug.
In 1955, Winchester decided to “upgrade” the Super Grades by going back to rust blued barrels and engine turning the bolt body, extractor, extractor collar, and magazine follower. These barrels are typically stamped “SUPER” underneath and and recoil lugs are usually stamped with a “backwards S”.
Net result is that it’s often hard to know if a SG made before 1955 left the factory that way or was upgraded later. You can determine if they are “correct” or not, but that’s about all…
The reason I mention all this is b/c in the descriptions you gave above, the 220 SWIFT Super Grade (1955) and the 375 MAGNUM standard (1950) rifles are as-expected. The 300 MAGNUM Super Grade (1949) would not typically have a jeweled bolt, and the 375 MAGNUM Super Grade (1946) should have a Super Grade floor plate.
If you post or e-mail photos be sure to include pictures of the floor plate stamp and the front sight.
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Thank you, Lou!
I will take pictures of what I have tonight. If it’s intuitive, I will post here, if not, I may just email if that’s OK.
Regards, Kevin
Kevin Johnson said
Thank you, Lou!
I will take pictures of what I have tonight. If it’s intuitive, I will post here, if not, I may just email if that’s OK.
Regards, Kevin
I see you’re a new member. Welcome!
Thanks Steve! I was just sending an email to Lou with pictures of the Model 70’s, but I would also like to know who the resident model 12 expert is. I have one of each gauge, some skeet, one heavy duck (I think). I would like someone to give me their thoughts on them as well…
Thanks, Kevin
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