August 27, 2025

I have a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight I’m looking to part ways with. It is considered a pre-64 model chambered in .270 WIN with a slign and scope
The gun was made in the year 1961 in New Haven, Connecticut, These have a higher significance because they used our controlled round feed bolt with the claw extractor. That gives you more reliable feeding and ejecting of the round in the chamber.
In online gun auctions I’ve seen these anywhere from $1,750-$10,000 and am looking to ascertain the value.
Happy to upload photos but the uploaded here appears broken. There’s no way for me to upload images. It keeps posting captions with no way to grab a file.

April 15, 2005

As a “Guest” member you do not have the access/permission necessary to directly upload pictures. This topic is in the FAQ forum and will provide the information needed to post your pictures – Posting Pictures – 2024 | Forum Rules and FAQs | Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector
Bert – Admin
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L

November 5, 2014

In general, the prices for M70 Featherweights in 270 WIN vary widely b/c they came in two flavors; Standard Featherweight and Super Grade Featherweight. Approximately (23,000) Standard Featherweights were made in 270 WIN compared to only (248) Super Grade Featherweights in that chambering.
In mint “collector” condition a Standard Featherweight is worth about $1600 to $1750 these days (up from about $1200 just a few years ago). I suspect the high dollar figures you’ve run across were for the Super Grade version. They can bring $8000 to $10,000 pretty easily if originality/condition are there.
Any non-factory alterations, to wood or metal, will have a substantial negative impact on retail value. For example a non-factory recoil pad, revarnished stock, reblued barrel/action, non-factory jeweling, etc. will reduce the value by 30-50% depending on the modification.
So a good way to look at it (IMHO) is that an intact pre-64 M70 standard action alone is worth about $750-800. So that’s the minimum – what it’s worth in parts… Going up from there depends on condition, originality, and nature of modifications, if any.
For help with identification, this is a high condition Monte Carlo comb 270 WIN Standard Featherweight. About a $1750 gun…
This is a high condition 270 WIN Super Grade Featherweight. ABout an $8500 gun…
Hope this helps…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
August 27, 2025

Thanks. Yeah I have no idea how much these go for. I know my grandpa treated the gun well, and that it has a scope and sling–many of the ones I saw don’t have either of those. I contacted NINE different places to get an appraisal (not from a pawn shop). I guess that’s a rare thing these days, because I found only 1 place willing to appraise–everywhere else I found doesn’t do appraisals or only does military guns. I’m going to check them out tomorrow.
Online search here showed $1,750-$10,000 when I last checked, and today shows $799-$15,995 which is quite the range. One shop recommended I ask you all, so thanks for being here 🙂

August 27, 2014

Should also note that a 1961 Fwt. will likely have smaller checkering panels and a hard rubber butt plate (earlier models had a checkered, anodized aluminum plate). To my eye, the quality of wood used on the later guns was also not as good.
Although some of the later guns bring good prices they are not as coveted and do not typically command the premium $’s as do the earlier Fwts.
Collectors generally favor the earlier guns.
One must also take these factors into consideration when considering the value of this gun
Did any of the shops show interest in or make an offer for your gun?
“If you can’t convince them, confuse them”
President Harry S. Truman
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