Identify new Winchester Model 70s

[cdpsrjc]

Today I went to look at the new FNH Winchester M70 rifles. The question is how to tell new old stock from the new Winchester FNH rifles. The featherweight I saw today had Olin on the barrel stamp. The salesman acted like new FNH rifles were news to him and suggested curtly if it mattered to me, I needed to do more research. How can I identify the new rifles please?

 

[jmr40]

The New haven rifles have not been made since 2006. Almost any new Winchester on the shelves should be made by FN.

All of my New Haven rifles have ""Made In New Haven, CT. USA" stamped on the left side of the barrel. The newer FN rifle says "Made in USA BACO Inc. Morgan Utah" on the right side of the barrel.

 

[cdpsrjc]

Thanks jmr40, the m70 rifle I saw as new today definitely did not say BACO on the left side of the barrel. I did not look for it on the right side. The rifle was on sale at a national chain hunting store.

 

[Skylerbone]

Many times large stores of NIB items are bought up and sold in a single location, sometimes decades after being discontinued. Kudos to you for being aware enough to know the difference and shame on the monkey behind the counter for not accepting his own ignorance in the matter. Perhaps you could print him an article or web site info on the new Winchesters from FN in hopes he'll better inform others and save himself some embarrassment in the future. At least you'll be doing your part to inform those who should be informed.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Stampings will be different to reflect the change in location, and frankly the newer Model 70's seem to be of consistently much higher quality than the rifles being turned out by the New Haven plant the last few years of production.

 

[jmr40]

The rifle you saw is almost certainly a new FN rifle, unless it is used. The BACO stamp should be on the RIGHT side of the barrel not the left side. None of my New Haven rifles say anything about Olin on them. Only the new rifles.

Also check the SN. All Winchester 70's made after 1968 start with a G prefix. The newer FN produced rifles use a different SN system.

Winchester closed their doors in March 2006. Shooters and collectors snapped up all of the New Haven rifles quickly. No one knew at that time that Winchester would start producing new rifles again. That is nearly 5 years. There may still be a few older rifles in stock in a few places, but it would be extremely rare.

 

[cdpsrjc]

Thank you. This is just the information I needed.