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I went to my local pawn shop to see what guns they had and they had a 1940s model 70 in 30-06 with a mannlicher stock.
I say 1940s production because the owner of the pawn shop said he called winchester collector and they said it was 1942, but the serial is [50XXXA] which, from my research, would mean that it was made in 1945. I dont know how this is possible, becuas I think that the custom shop took regular m70s and converted them to the manlicher stock configuration.
Also, I can see this rifle is exceedingly rare, and the the finish for this firearm is 99%, beautiful bluing and only storage marks on the cheek rest.
I dont know anything about this rifle and from my very brief research, there isnt much out there. I wanted to ask yall on here what the history is on the mannlicher stock M70s and if anybody can give me a estimate on what a good price for this rifle would be, as i can only find a post 64 M70 mannlicher on that was sold at RIA for 4000. I would think this one is more valuable because the of the low serial.
Any and all information would be helpful, as there seems to be little out there.
Thank you, Stephen
Stephen,
We ask that you provide the complete serial number when asking about the date of manufacture. That stated Model 70 serial number 50000 was manufactured in in June 1942, and serial number 50999 was manufactured in September 1942.
To the best of my knowledge, Winchester did not manufacture a Model 70 rifle with a Mannlicher stock until the latter part of the 1960s. Accordingly, the rifle you are looking at is not factory original, and is not worth much in the collector market.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
The serial is 50551A. I get conflicting reports when it comes to the mannlicher stock date of manufacture, as i can find people saying they wernt made pre 64 but the one i saw was definintly pre 64. The rifle has an A suffix, which to my understanding means custom shop, right? The rifle isnt in one of the custom calibers so why would it have an A suffix?
The “A” suffix has nothing to do with it being a Custom Shop built rifle, and again, there were no pre-64 Mannlicher stocked model 70 rifles that I am aware of.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Well i guess im lucky i didnt buy it then, because he was definitely asking to much if the stock isnt original. Thanks for the iformation.
-Stephen
Stephen-
I cannot be much help, but with the ‘A’ suffix are you sure the rifle wasn’t a Model 54?
Seems to me that I recall (though it’s not there now) that not too long ago Leroy Merz (I think) had a Mannlicher stocked M54 that was supposed to have been one of a very few similar guns that John Olin had made up for friends. The rifle even had a letter (from Herbert Houze???) stating the opinion that it was a factory original rifle.
But not a M70… As Bert said, I am unaware of any pre-64 M70s made (even as special order) with Mannlicher stocks. 
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Believe you nailed it Lou. I recall the Merz gun and there was another similar Mannlicher stocked M54 (serial # 48201A, 30.06) that went through Amoskeag in 2012. There was engraving on the receivers of these M54’s.
November 7, 2015
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Stephen, I think a return trip to your local pawn shop may be warranted.
Mike
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