Pre 1964 M-70 Winchester

[.22M.R.F.]

I am looking at this rifle with thought of perhaps buying it and would appreciate any guidance you can provide as to things to look for and things that could be a problem as well as suggestions of the approximate value. The serial number places it in the 1956 year of production, there is a 4 X 12X Redfield Variable Scope mounted with Weaver mounts. This is a Featherweight variation chambered for the .243 caliber Winchester and the rifle is in super condition, sorry I'm unable to post photos, not in my possession yet. What do you believe should be paid for such a rifle? I know it was the highest production Caliber but is a caliber I am fond of. It has the aluminum floor plate and the aluminum butt plate. I failed to mention the asking price is $1,600, not sure I want it that bad and hope to dicker some on the price! Thanks for any help you can provide

 

[hardluk1]

The 243 cal is a bit hard on barrels throat are. Its old enought that wear there could affect accuracy. The scope can be hit or miss but since leupy owns redfeild now there no warrenty anymore old old scopes.For 1600 dollars . I would walk on away. You have to be buying it in 100% condition and be a collector to pay that kind of money. Go get a cz 550 0r a montania rifle company rifle. if you want the mauser style action or high quality in a shooter.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i'd rather have two $800 rifles

 

[Gordon]

A super condition aluminum butt Featherweight in .243 is worth $1400, I KNOW ! The throat is prolly good if the gun looks like new (as in not refinished) , a worn throated .243 cleans up the throat with the Ackley Imp. version reamer run thru it and you can still fire factory .243 and handload the superior Ackley improved.
The old Redfield scope is hit or miss as said all ready and is not of the quality of a Leupold, so is not really worth very much, maybe $75-100 dollars. So the rifle is slightly overpriced. If you were collecting you should get the box and hangtag for $1600.
FWIW I have been on the look out for a pre 64 .243 Varmit or Target to hang my 10x 2" Unertl on.They are all way over $2K for a good one!

 

[sage5907]

I own several pre 64 Model 70's. Production year 1956 was a good year and the serial number should be between 361,026 and 393,595. Since the stock has an aluminum buttplate that suggests the stock has not been cut so that raises the value for a collector. At the current time I would expect to pay about $1,200 for a standard featherweight with a monte carlo stock in excellent condition. For that money the rifle should have about 98% blue on the barrel, receiver & bolt handle. The floorplate and trigger guard could show slight wear along the edges. The stock should be good dense wood with very minor scratches or cracks. When the action is removed from the stock there should be no cracks behind the rear tang screw, in the web in front of the trigger or by the screw behind the recoil lug. The serial number on the bottom of the bolt should match the serial number on the side of the receiver. If the stock has been refinished or the checkering is not sharp to the touch that reduces the value. The bore should be bright and shiny with no sign of pitting or corrosion. BW

 

[sage5907]

My posting should have read -- the stock should be good dense wood with very minor scratches and no cracks. BW

 

[sage5907]

Just a little more information. There were 581,471 pre 64 model 70's made. Of those, 135,180 were featherweights. Of those, 24,707 were chambered for the 243 Winchester cartridge. In my opinion, the highest quality rifles were made from about 1951 through 1954, and the quality of wood in the stocks begain to fall off especially in the later years. The higher quality stock were of really dense wood and when they were finished they took on a sort of gold look. Some of the later stocks that were darker brown were of really porus wood, and some are so porus that they look like the wood was grown in a swamp or were highly figured in the butt area. If you see one of the gold colored stocks you will recognize the quality immediately. Another way to look at the price is that a 98% receiver, bolt and barrel together with matching serial numbers are worth about $750. A good quality stock with only small handling marks, not cut for a recoil pad, no cracks, and with a good original finish can be worth as much as $400. The remainder of the value is in the trigger guard, floorplate, magazine box, spring and follower. The full value of an excellent rifle can add up to $1,200 in a hurry. BW

 

[Offfhand]

Quote from above post:
" a worn throated .243 cleans up the throat with the Ackley Imp. version reamer run thru it .."

Say that again..??

 

[Vern Humphrey]

From Gunsamerica.com

Pre 64 M70 Winchester Featherweight 905664342

Pre-64 Model 70 Winchester featherweight, caliber 243 in NRA excellent condition that was made in mid 50’s. It has a perfect bore, crown and throat (shot very little). It has 99% o... (read more)

$1,050.00

 

[sage5907]

Vern, out of curiosity I looked up that posting. The buy it now price for the rifle is $1,200. The opening bid is $1,050 with 8 days to go before the sale ends. I couldn't tell a lot about the rifle from the pictures but it has 3 know items that affect the selling price. The stock finish is flaking in front of the buttplate, the floorplate has most of the anodized coating missing, and something is wrong with the sling swivels. The first thing I would ask the seller is if the stock has any cracks and cracks around the receiver area. A cracked stock can really reduce the value of the rifle. The seller knows what he is doing though because starting at $1,050 could make a sale. On the other hand, the rifle could still be unsold at the end of 8 days. BW

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Oh, I know this rifle is no collector's item -- but if you want a shooter, all the problems are easily fixed.

My own Model 70 was made in 1913, originally with the old "dolls head" safety. To mount a scope on it, at some time the bolt was changed to one with the more modern safety -- not a collector's item, but it shoots like nobody's business.

 

[sage5907]

Hey Vern, when I drive down the road the only trucks I see are 4 wheel drive Chevy's. It's the same at gun shows, the only rifles I see are pre 64 Model 70 Winchester's. BW

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Well, I like a Dodge 4X4, too -- but only pre-64 Winchesters interest me.

 

[Gordon]

1937 with the dolls head tang?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I believe it originally had the dolls head safety -- in any case, the bolt has been changed to the current design.