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March 23, 2007
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I know little to nothing about the model 70. My son desires to obtain a pre-64 specimen and he’s enamored with the 300 H&H cartridge. I see this one up for sale in the May RIA. What do knowledgeable forum members have to say about it?
August 8, 2024
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The box although a little beat up looks to be original, and matches the rifle. The rifle looks correct. I would need to have it in my hands for a final approval. Now, if I was interested in the rifle. I would like to see the inside of the box. Along with the paper work, and tags that are included. The hag tag should not be generic. It should list the chambering, and barrel length.
August 27, 2014
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Dimrod, that looks like a very nice gun.
Since you indicate that you know little to nothing about M70’s you should be aware that this is a late production gun with the smaller, machine checkering pattern and hard rubber butt plate. Some collectors (myself included) prefer the earlier production guns that feature the larger, hand cut checkering pattern and checkered steel butt plate. Another consideration is the Monte Carlo stock on this gun vs. the classic, low comb stock found on the earlier guns
“If you can’t convince them, confuse them”
President Harry S. Truman
November 5, 2014
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I don’t see anything obviously wrong with the rifle…
G7039, Standard Grade 300 H&H Magnum rifle with Monte Carlo stock. Type III-4 action. Lyman 16B rear sight (should have a 0.360″ tall Win 103E front sight). The plastic butt plate and late HAND checkered stock are appropriate for the 1961 DOM. If you’re expecting machine checkering, keep in mind that the 300 H&H stocks were unique to that one catalog symbol (longer magazine well inside), and like many other “specialized” stocks, they tend to keep turning up after some of the common stocks (shared by multiple catalog symbols) had mostly gone to machine checkering.
The box, of corrugated cardboard (not pasteboard) and stamped “OLIN Winchester-Western Division” on top is (I think) OK for a 1961 gun. The end label appears to be OK… They don’t show much else or say that there’s any paperwork within the box. If it’s there it should most likely have the same Corporate address as the box unless it’s been cobbled together.
Whether the set (gun + box) is worth the auction estimate ($3,000 – $4,500 plus another 25% or so by the time it’s delivered) is up to the potential bidder to decide…
Just my take…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
August 27, 2014
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My mistake re. machine checkering vs. hand checkering Lou 🙂
“If you can’t convince them, confuse them”
President Harry S. Truman
November 5, 2014
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Honestly Ted…
I sometimes have trouble with the early machine checkered stocks that were “cleaned up” by hand. The hand checkering panels got much smaller (more in length than width) by the late 1950s, but the machine checkered panels (IMHO) are far narrower than those laid out by hand. Also the fore end cross section was made more “square” and the grip radius adjusted slightly to accommodate the checkering machine, but those differences are often hard to see in pictures…
This one (an Alaskan) is machine checkered, and very close in serial number to the subject rifle…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
March 23, 2007
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I’m curious, what is the current value range of an honest pre-64 model 70 in 300 H&H in 90% or better condition? This one has the box that I don’t hold in high regard or desire to pay a premium for it. What say those that follow the market on these rifles? Where else could I potentially find a nice example to purchase?
November 5, 2014
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Hi Dimrod-
I’m not the best one to comment on prices… For all the M70 surveying that I do, I rarely pay any attention to prices. The last 300 H&H Magnum pre-64 M70 I bought had the (rare) factory stainless steel barrel and it was pricey…
The way I look at it, any high condition intact unaltered pre-64 M70, even a Standard rifle or Featherweight in 30-06 (the common guns) are going to cost $1600 to $2000 these days if buying from a dealer or via an auction. Like your Son, many people think the 300 H&H Magnum is pretty cool, and they go for more, maybe 50% more… I wouldn’t consider the $3000 low estimate on that RIA gun to be too high given its condition, it’s all the added costs (premium/tax/shipping) that would push it beyond what I’d be willing to pay.
If you’re specifically looking for a 300 H&H Magnum, one thing to be aware of is that they did NOT come with a recoil pad and the bridge was NOT factory D&T until around s/n 170,000. The gun I pictured above is a n Alaskan (338 WIN MAGNUM) and those did have pads… An added pad or D&T bridge on a 300 H&H Magnum is a 50% reduction in value (IMHO), so paying the kind of prices I’m talking about above for an altered one is a bad move… So get to know what an unaltered one looks like…
As for where to find one… I guess the “usual” places… Depends on whether participate in auctions or GB/GI. They are not “rare”… Any more, RIA seems to be relegating pre-64 M70s to their “On-Time” (internet only) auctions and sometimes there will be a dozen or more pre-64 M70s in a single auction. Likewise LSB, Amoskeag, Morphy, Richmond, Redding, etc. If Dave Morris (Frontier Guns) lists one on GI it’s probably a good gun… I recommend just being patient…
Curious what others think about prices and where to shop…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
August 8, 2024
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Good advice Louis! Recently I have noticed that shooter grade Model 70s chambered in .300 H&H Mag. that have been altered in some way. Or, have condition issues are a little soft. I think this is because .300 H&H Mag. ammo is hard to find, and very expensive. I agree with Louis that you can deduct 50% off a altered Model . So, let’s be conservative, and say that a Standard Model with a steel butt plate that is completely right with condition would cost $2,500.00. The same with a plastic butt plate $2,000.00. I feel this would be a decent guide for someone looking to purchase one.
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