What is the value of my Model 70 Featherweight in .257 Roberts? Serial #G1577211. It is in excellent shape, may have not been fired. Interestingly it is tapped and grooved for open sights though none came with the rifle. I am guessing it is an early 1980's vintage. Thanks in advance for your comments.
I have one like it. Push feed Model 70s don't have any collector value, they're shooters. A rifle like you described is worth about $500, give or take a little. The right buyer may give more.
A 257 Roberts is an odd duck. Folks that like them, really like them. Others just yawn. In my neck of the woods, a Roberts FW doesn't bring much more than a FW in more common chamberings.
I don't understand the description of the sights. Tapped I understand, grooved I don't. Do you mean dovetailed? While that may be original, I doubt it. I'm not aware of any of the later FWs with factory open sights. It was probably done by a previous owner. If so, that would knock the value back some if I were looking at it.
Posts: 545 | Location: Liberty, MO | Registered: 21 January 2003
Although I've never actually seen one, some of the earliest Winchester catalogues showed factory installed open sights put on just as described and similar to the original pre-64 featherweights. I am not certain though if the factory front ramps were soldered on or screw attached on the early push feeds. Knowing that detail might be the clue to determining if it's factory or after market done. My 257 had no factory provision for open sights but I wish it had.
