Hi All!

I need your help and guidance, please, to share some information and point me in the right direction for additional research.

I have spent the past six days googling trying to find the answer to:

When was this Rifle made, and

Is it a Parts Bin Rifle or just a confluence of unusual circumstances that make it a Rifle assembled from Genuine Winchester parts but a Not a Factory Made Winchester.

Serial Number

As you will note, the U is in line with the serial numbers and I think a U in the sn indicates a Sears branded/marketed Win M70 rifle as a Sears/Ted Williams Model 53, but I am not sure about this..

But, the G preceding the U appears to have been added at a different time because the G is slightly above the base line (G mandated by GCA of 1968 – see below), different font, different size and impression depth. The Bluing appears to be consistent across all the digits.  

Opposite side from Bolt clearly shows Winchester. The two ‘filled’ holes – are they the factory drilled holes for the side mount scope from the early pre-64 years? Or are they for the Lyman Peep Sight? Aftermarket scope mounting holes?

The Cody site lists M70 sn range of 49135 to 54805 (https://centerofthewest.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015_Winchester_SN-list.pdf).

The Historian at the Winchester/Browning Factory says ALL Model 70 information that is not at Cody was ‘”lost or burned or otherwise unaccounted for” and could provide no insight as to origin/date of Rifle.

The NRA (http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940941/serialization-date%20of%20manufacture.pdf) site has an extensive list of serial numbers but none of them cross to the GU168xxx sn. They do state that the G in the sn was mandated by the gun control act of 1968 and sn list shows such G-prefixed serial numbers commencing sometime in 1969.

The Barrel adds to the confusion. It is marked Model 70 Carbine 30:06 SPRG.

The barrel length is 20 inches – as indicated by the “Carbine” designation. Winchester discontinued the 20” barrel in 1947 ( paragraph 8, last sentence, of: http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/modern-firearms-1950-to-present/case-57-still-more-guns/winchester-model-70-bolt-action-rifle-(1).aspx)

I do not know the significance of the Jeweled Bolt or the Knurled knob on the Bolt Handle.  It may be an indication of an upgraded Model 70 version or a Sears “Deluxe” version – a ’Ted Williams’ version maybe.

The stock is not walnut but some other wood – blond oak?, birch, as has been stated in other threads.

Any insights or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading.