Anybody know the value of this rifle? Win. M70

[Reyn]

The gun is an older Win M70 in 30/06. The only numbers i found was 3 894. Dont know why there is a space between the 3 and 8. Looks like a pre-64 but im not familiar with them. Anyone know what it might be worth?

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Depends on its condition, but just looking at it I'd say it is a pre 64. Easiest way to tell is by looking at the bolt for the claw extractor, which was not found on the post 64 guns until the 1980s, but it looks like a pre-64 to me. Does it have a steel or hard rubber butt plate? At any rate, it's value is probably around $700 if it's a pre-64. More, if it's a Featherweight, Super Grade and/or a pre-WWII. If the number you gave is the serial number, then it is a pre-WWII production gun, which means you can add $300 to the price I gave above, and if it's a Super Grade, add another 80%to that.

 

[Jim Watson]

The safety looks like a pre-war version.
I don't know about the gap in the serial number. If it was just struck unevenly spaced at the factory, Blue Book says No 3894 was made in 1937. If for some weird reason they falied to get a number down in the space between the 3 and the 8; guns in the 30,000 range were made in 1939 and 1940.

The receiver bridge was not drilled and tapped for a scope base in those days, so the extra hole for the Redfield base (with cute little flip-up emergency peep sight) detracts from the collector value.

The black foreend tip looks a little funny. The only foreend tip Winchester used was on the Super Grade and those were marked as such on the floorplate and had a cheekpiece stock. If the tip is an add-on that is another blow to collector interest and value.

The bolt handle looks a little purplish in the photo. If so, that might be a sign of a reblue which is death to collector value.

Still a nice rifle worth hundreds but not thousands of bucks.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

The safety looks like a pre-war version.
I don't know about the gap in the serial number. If it was just struck unevenly spaced at the factory, Blue Book says No 3894 was made in 1937. If for some weird reason they falied to get a number down in the space between the 3 and the 8; guns in the 30,000 range were made in 1939 and 1940.

The receiver bridge was not drilled and tapped for a scope base in those days, so the extra hole for the Redfield base (with cute little flip-up emergency peep sight) detracts from the collector value.

The black foreend tip looks a little funny. The only foreend tip Winchester used was on the Super Grade and those were marked as such on the floorplate and had a cheekpiece stock. If the tip is an add-on that is another blow to collector interest and value.

The bolt handle looks a little purplish in the photo. If so, that might be a sign of a reblue which is death to collector value.

Still a nice rifle worth hundreds but not thousands of bucks.

Yeah, I noticed the fore end tip too. Looks like an add on to me as well. Supergrades were, as you said, clearly marked in steel. Like you said, though, still a nice rifle even if its collector value has been reduced by mods. If the stock is the only thing messed with, though, you could remedy that with a new stock, which are fairly available since a lot of the pre-64 were donor guns for custom rifles.

 

[ThreadKiller]

Yeah, I noticed the fore end tip too. Looks like an add on to me as well. Supergrades were, as you said, clearly marked in steel. Like you said, though, still a nice rifle even if its collector value has been reduced by mods. If the stock is the only thing messed with, though, you could remedy that with a new stock, which are fairly available since a lot of the pre-64 were donor guns for custom rifles.

I have to wonder about this stock. The pistol grip is not shaped like a "standard" Pre64 M70 stock. More like the Super Grade grip.

It's a parts gun IMHO.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I have to wonder about this stock. The pistol grip is not shaped like a "standard" Pre64 M70 stock. More like the Super Grade grip.

It's a parts gun IMHO.

You're right about the stock. It is contoured in the pistol grip area like a super grade, and it seems to have a cap. Check this out, http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976579838.htm and see if it conforms to your rifle. The fore end tip on yours looks like an add on, as the real one (illustrated in the hyperlink) was longer, yet your stock seems to have the proper sling swivels. Only thing that doesn't look right for a supergrade on yours is the fore end tip being too short, but for all I know, some of them were made short like that. Does it say supergrade on the magazine plate?

 

[Reyn]

Thanks guys. My brother-in-law owns the gun. He got it a couple years ago and is not a gun freak. He doesnt hunt or shoot much. He paid like 300 and traded somethin. The previous owner though has tried to get the gun back several times. My brother-in law was told it was made or used or something in WWII. The butt plate is metal. He is wanting to sell it and initially said 400.00.The bolt handle is dull silver. It doesnt look as though it was ever blued.The magazine does not say supergrade

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

It has an odd mixture of features. I suspect that someone took the standard grade stock and attempted to make it look like the supergrade stock. Still a nice rifle. It is certainly worth more than $400, so you should buy it if that's the price.