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I have a model 70 featherweight made about 1955 or 56. It does not have the standard Winchester sling swivels on it and instead has common looking quick detachable studs. I had always assumed that some one had just unscrewed the original sling swivels and attached an easier to use QD set up. But, I read an article on one of the Chuck Hawks webpages you could order the featherweight with a steel floor plate and/or QD studs instead of the standards. I’m not a model 70 collector but I thought this was interesting and wondered if it were true. So, were there featherweights produced with QD swivels or should they all have standard, all in one swivel/studs?
Thanks for any information.
November 5, 2014
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FWIW… my best guess on this one…
Prior to ’63, the factory had its own style of detachable sling swivels. These were used on Super Grade and Super Grade Featherweight rifles (discontinued in ’59) and Africans (catalogued through ’63). They are of the familiar design that used a wide QD swivel design and had inlet machined bases that attached with two screws. One could certainly order detachable swivels on a Standard grade rifle or Featherweight, but if factory I would expect them to be of the factory design. If handy, check photo 8-17 of Roger Rule’s M70 book.
My presumption is that any pre-64 M70 with the simple screw-in Uncle Mike’s or Williams style QD bases is carrying non-factory replacements, owner installed for convenience.
One thing to look at the escutcheon on the inside of the fore end that accepts the front swivel. The Winchester parts did not use the same thread as the common aftermarket replacements, so for the fore end the backing nut would likely have to have been replaced with a round knurled affair since the more elaborate machined Winchester part would not accept the after market stud.
Best
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
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