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Hello,
I have a Model 70 built in 1941 (s/n 39xxx). It has two 6-48 tapped holes in the top of the receiver bridge, spaced 0.500 center to center. Can anyone tell me if these were drilled and tapped by the factory? I have found conflicting descriptions of the holes here.
Thank you!
—
Regards,
Jim
November 5, 2014
Offline
The bridge of pre-war Model 70 rifles were not factory drilled as part of regular production, although anything could be ordered.
The main argument against the holes being factory special order is the limited options available to buyers for scope mounts in 1941. Griffin & Howe side mounts were popular (and could be obtained factory installed), and I believe that the Stith Install-It-Yourself mount for the pre-war Weaver G330 scope was available (but it used the rear sight dovetail and the receiver sight holes). There were various options to mount Unertl/Lyman/Fecker type scopes, mostly using the holes on the receiver ring (Unertl ‘U’ block) and rear sight dovetail (‘BK’ or ‘K’ block). But I don’t think that the popular top mounts by Redfield, Weaver and others came around until after the war.
Beginning sometime around 1946-1947, the post-war “transition” actions, which had the clover leaf tang and smooth bridge (not clip slotted), were factory drilled on the bridge. I think the hole spacing was 0.860″ (same as the receiver ring). Even then, the transition era rifles that were still clip slotted (30-06 target models only) or the long H&H Magnum actions (where the bridge was relieved to accommodate the longer cartridge) gave the factory fits, as the hole spacing for these receivers was not yet standardized between Winchester and the scope mount manufacturers. So transition era 30-06 National Match and Target Models, as well as 30-06 and 300 H&H Magnum Bull guns were still not factory drilled. Likewise, the 300 and 375 H&H Magnum rifles in any configuration were not routinely drilled until somewhere around serial number 100,000 (well after the standard length actions were factory drilled).
Again my head for figures is probably wrong, but I think that the hole spacing that was eventually adopted for the long magnum action bridges was 0.450″.
Hope this information helps…
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
It seems frustratingly common that many otherwise nice prewar Model 70 rifles bear the aftermarket additions of the described receiver bridge holes. I have never noted a prewar Model 70 bridge with holes that even appeared “factory original”. When most of these were drilled, there was no motivation to conceal their aftermarket quality and in my experience either a bit rough or chamfered hole edges most often in the white. Such contrasted to clean factory quality of the receiver ring equivalents. Perhaps Mr. Luttrell can address the question of the likelihood of a customer order leaving the factory with such contrasting appearance even if nicely done.
I also do recall that there was a short postwar period when a single factory hole in the bridge occurred. That in a short transition mode before the standard two bridge holes were adopted.
My highest serial Model 70 without bridge tapping is in the 55K range and my lowest with apparent ‘full four’ factory tapping is in the 69K serial range and I believe it to be original.
Please indulge a war story: Perhaps eight years ago from a gun show table, I purchased an ‘otherwise quite pristine’ prewar Model 70 30-06, SN 41K range. Wearing a Redfield single piece mount, an appropriate “non-originality” price reduction was negotiated. I’d noticed the (single) bridge screw was missing. Yet later astounded to determine so was the presumed bridge mounting hole! Whatever the scope had been, it was secured only by the receiver ring fasteners and even then no signs of excess torquing or residual scope base marring. Scope mount removed, the rifle was indeed pristine original! No similar stories in that happy context!
And on that note, I bow out with just a…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
I want to thank you for the feedback. The threaded holes in the receiver bridge are blued and I can’t see any difference between them and the holes in the ring (chamfering, etc.). I borrowed 6-48 go and no-go gauges from a machinist friend and all four holes appear to have been tapped at the same time.
To make a long story short, I worked with S&K on getting a pair of bases. They are modifying their #47P base by shortening it and drilling a hole spaced 0.500 from the original. I haven’t received the pair yet but all measurements suggest it will fit properly.
When I bought this rifle, I had no illusions that it was collectable. It is very clean, the checkering is sharp and the bore is bright without any visible pitting. I just wanted a shooter and I think I have a good one.
Thanks again!
—
Regards,
Jim
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