Are the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 rifles worth what people are asking and paying? There's a noticeable bump in price with pre-1964's. And if you think they are, why? I've been looking for a Winchester Model 70 270 cal. for a new deer rifle for white tail in PA.
Welcome to THR, rambo2_981!
Not to be a wise guy, but yeah, if people are paying what other people are asking for certain rifles (or anything else for that matter) then that's what those rifles are "worth."
Not to me, however.
I have a pre-64 Model 70, and my wife has a post-94 Model 70, and I like my wife's Model 70 better. Both of our Model 70s are highly customized, but the fit and finish of my wife's rifle was better than mine to begin with, and it has a "smoother" action and better trigger.
I guess a person could claim my pre-64 Model 70 has more "nostalgic" value (I bought it way back when) but I'm more into "usefulness" than "nostalgia" when it comes to most of my guns - if you know what I mean.
At any rate, if I was looking for another deer rifle, a current production Model 70 Winchester would be near the top of my list of rifle choices. The fact is, if you've seen a some of my other posts in the last few months, you know I'm considering getting myself a new .257 Weatherby for deer and pronghorn hunting. However, I sure do wish the .257 Weatherby was chambered in a current production, stainless, synthetic stocked, Model 70 Winchester. As far as I'm concerned, that would be "the cat's meow."
Edited to add: don't just take my word for it, rambo2_981. Run some searches about pre-64 Model 70s versus current production Model 70s. You'll see that I'm not the only hunter that likes current production Model 70s better.
BTW - I'm NOT talking about post '64, but pre-94 Model 70s. If you
gave me a Model 70 that was built between 1964 and 1994, I'd sell it and have a couple of nice dinners out with my wife.