Found a nice little 1959 M70 in 30-06 I am thinking about buying. The gun is topped with a Leupold VX-II, 3-9X. The gun has clearly been used, but not abused. Bluing good but wearing thin on the edges of the floor-plate. I would not consider the gun to be a collector quality gun but a nice hunting rifle.

Assuming the gun is as described above, what is a fair price? Also, what makes the pre-war M70s better than a 1959 gun?

Thanks

I own a 1959 Model 70 Std. in 30.06 which I purchased about 6 years ago and paid $750 for it with no scope, bases or rings. It is in better than average condition. As for the pre war models, they had some slightly different design work done on the post war models and many collectors prize the original design. In my opinion (and that's all it is), Winchester gradually experienced some quality control problems toward the end of the mfg. cycle leading up to 1963. I've been told by some old heads that this was due to their old manual production equipment beginning to be worn out. Personally, I believe a Model 70 manufactured in the lat 1940's or 1950's is as good as any ever made.

Winchester Model 70's were manufactured between 1936 to 1963. ( Yeah there are newer ones but that itsn't the subject of this thread ).

The big categoriers are:

1. Pre war 1937 to 1941-
2. Transition 1946 to 1948
3. 1949 to 1952
4. Post 1953 to end of production.
* blue book combines #3 and #4 above

Comments:

Transition models are very difficult, some of the recievers the pre war type ( cloverleaf ) and others are the later type. They all had tranistion safeties.

In 1953 Winchester did changes in manufacturing technics to save money on manufacturing costs.
Quality was supposidly good until the 1960's, but the best of this era of rifle was 53-58.

Winchester had quality issues supposidly in the last few years of production, and it slipped a little each year over several years, not all a once.

My personal favorite actions are non cloverleaf pre 52 actions. That gives me 1949-1952 Winchesters to hunt for. I truth I like all the production years, I have a 1960 375 H&H which is original and exclemely nice. I also am building a 1952.

I am not a real expert on Pre war models the total production numbers of all these years was about the same a a single year in later periods. There just aren't very many of them, they are rarer, original speciemens more so.

A good write on Wisner's on the Model 70:

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additionalinfo/winchester_model_70.htm

I just bought a .270 manufactured in 1952. I paid $550, it's decent deal in my area but not a real bargain. It's in decent shape other than somebody hit the checkering with some sand paper. I'm getting it recut and will refinish and blue and then hunt with it as is.

Gentlemen,

Thank you. This is exactly the info I was hoping to get. In light of the foregoing I think the gun I am considreing is a little over priced, but not unreasonable. It is the kind of rifle I will carry the rest of my life. Even at 8.25 lbs, the gun is much more lively in hand than my Ruger M77 30-06.

Dempsy, I like the look of that old scope. The Leuopold 3-9x is going to go. I'll replace it with my Leupold 4X but may look for a vintage scope.

For collecting, the pre-wars are the cream of the crop, but for optimum use, I prefer pre-64 Model 70s that were made between 1951 and 1956, and many of the later ones, even from 1963, shoot incredibly well. The ones made between 1959 and 1963 are also a bit thinner through the forend, feel a bit better, and they're a bit lighter as well. The later guns aren't all-bad by any means, especially as hunting rifles.

I don't care for pre-wars as hunting guns because the safety and stock doesn't work well with a scope, and I don't like the way any of the low-comb Model 70s work with scopes. But the Monte Carlo stock Winchester introduced in 1951 works perfectly with a scope, even though you often need to use medium rings to keep the bolt handle from hitting the scope's occular lens housing.

AD

I have 2 pre 64 Model 70's one in .270 and the other is a .300 H&H mag, both are 1950's guns and in great shape. paid $600 for the .270 and got a steal for $400 for the .300 H&H from the original owner who bought it when he was going to college in Alaske and only used it a couple of times.They are both great hunting rifles.