This is a Winchester Model 70 NM . 1939 reciever & bolt–1950 barrel date. has the factory Special order Sniper stock., plain uncheckered , oil finish.. Research Lt Col George Van Orden,, Marine Corp snipers. He began ordering Model 70’s in 1942 for WW2 . In 1950, Van Orden was pushing Winchester for a contract, this may be one of the samples, the triangle proofs on barrel and bolt are missing. This stock split thru the inlet,long ago,
wasn’t on it. i stuck it on for looks. that’s a B5..Am looking for a Unertl 8X, but have a Super Spot, that would be appropiate. Having the barrel reblued. very recent acqusition, Sunday.before last… It will be set up for either “open sights or long range telescope. ” NM barrel..
In 1950 the Korean War was gearing up. Long Range sniper rifles were again ,in demand. In 1939 Winchester declared all 30-06 caliber guns were designated foe military use. 1950 was the same. Van Odden was trying to get Winchester a contract, but the Remington 40X won the military contract. George Van Orden ,after leaving the Marines ,set up a store for Marine target shooters -sniper in Virginia , Evaluators Ltd. where most of the medium heavy barrels, target rifles were sold thru..
The stock split thru the inlet a long time ago, maybe at Winchester testing. there was a almost 1/8th gap at the rear of the tang that caused it,.to split, luckily it wasn’t shot much after that. see the color on the reciever and bolt extractor ,..Before the replies tell me about the 40K to 50K range for Van orden ,those numbers are post 1950. Orden ordered Snipers built during WW2 as well/, This is the same Type 1 reciever that was prefferred for the early ones. The post 1940 rifles are built on target recievers, in 1950 Winchester began slotting the target recievers only, again , for springfield. stripper clips to make them compliant with NM rules..
Ralph Fitzwater said
there was a almost 1/8th gap at the rear of the tang that caused it,.to split,
I’ve read that on ’03 Springfields (from which 70s derive) a small gap, though maybe not 1/8th, was deliberately left to reduce the chance of splitting. It was believed that a tight fit could lead to splitting.
Ralph Fitzwater said
The stock split thru the inlet a long time ago, maybe at Winchester testing. there was a almost 1/8th gap at the rear of the tang that caused it,.to split, luckily it wasn’t shot much after that. see the color on the reciever and bolt extractor ,..Before the replies tell me about the 40K to 50K range for Van orden ,those numbers are post 1950. Orden ordered Snipers built during WW2 as well/, This is the same Type 1 reciever that was prefferred for the early ones. The post 1940 rifles are built on target recievers, in 1950 Winchester began slotting the target recievers only, again , for springfield. stripper clips to make them compliant with NM rules..
You asked about the 40K – 50K serial number range… per the Polishing Room records, those numbers were all applied to the receiver frames in 1941 & 1942, and as such, they are not post 1950. Accordingly, they are technically “pre-war”. If you have a more specific serial number range, please specify it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Ralph Fitzwater said
This is a Winchester Model 70 NM . 1939 reciever & bolt–1950 barrel date. has the factory Special order Sniper stock., plain uncheckered , oil finish..Research Lt Col George Van Orden,, Marine Corp snipers. He began ordering Model 70’s in 1942 for WW2 . In 1950, Van Orden was pushing Winchester for a contract, this may be one of the samples, the triangle proofs on barrel and bolt are missing. This stock split thru the inlet,long ago,
In viewing the pictures of this rifle, the S/N appears to be 20082. If that is the correct serial number, it was manufactured in the latter half of July 1938.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
This is serial number 26062 late 1939.. Clarence The Model 70 was derived from the Model 54, in 1936. not the Springfield.. I’ve seen and own a number of both and yet to see an”1/8th gap, behind the reciever tang , as the space provides room to move under heavy 30-06 recoil. The point of bedding target stocks is to make a more precise fit between wood and metal..so it won’t split. The grain can react to repeated shock, of movement , till it pops apart.. Bert— There are two distinct groups of Van Orden Marine Snipers. The First group being in the 40K to 50K , built during WW2. They were promoted by Van Orden for use in the Pacific Theatre. they are all a Type 1 reciever with stripper clip slots, that began on the Model 54. Remember Winchester was veeing for military rifle contracts..The Museum lists a sample Model 54 in full military stock.. The second batch of Van Orden Marine Sniper rifles are in the 300xxx range and up built on modified Type 2 recievers. . Theres a number of posts thout the forum on Van Orden snipers. Those 300xxx and up numbers are listed in Chandler’s book “Death from Afar” They were private sales, facilitated by Van Orden thru his gun shop Evaluators in Triangle VA. Van Orden ordered thru Winchester. for the medium heavy barreled target recievers with stripper clip slots..they were sold commercially to him as an FFL shop,to service members rifle team members..they should have every commercial inspection proof Winchester applies.. Mine is 1950. and was using up every leftover type 1 reciever on hand, until Winchester management reimplimented the slots in only the target madels, thus accomodating military requirements… i have restructured inside, too that it won’t split under use. as it was a few more boxes would have popped the wrist in two.eventually.. few hardened steel pins, arsenal style..
Blue Ridge Parson said
And both were heavily influenced by the Mauser ’98. I remember reading somewhere that there was a lawsuit by Mauser against Springfield for patent infringement on their ’98 rifle, which was made moot by the outcome of World War I.
Actually, US eventually paid for the pat infringement. But it was not for the basic design of the action, despite the obvious resemblance of the two–it was for the Mauser stripper-clip.
The 1903 was a patent infringement from Mauser 98. As bolt actions goes, Mauser defined it..everyone else copied it. it was under the 7 years. from 1898 Mauser – patent. see where the space led to splitting the stock. right thru , .the screw slams against the back of the screw hole. like a hammer banging on it..pop the layer at the wrist..wait till it splits and force glue in. ? There is a thin fiberglass “bedding painted inside the reciever inlet.. aren’t most rifles bare wood inside?
Ralph Fitzwater said There is a thin fiberglass “bedding painted inside the reciever inlet.. aren’t most rifles bare wood inside?
Yes. Some previous owner must have done it.
As for the crack, I don’t think there’s much to be done at this point, & it may never get worse; it it does, cross that bridge when you come to it.
clarence. it’s said the Van Orden Sniper rifles were bedded with thin fiberglass, by Van Orden, theres no reason to think he didn’t require it in his dileberatins failed or not for a contract in 1950.. Obviously you don’t look too closley at the photos posted of repair.. your “two cents” is irrelevant..
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