No More Model 70's?

25 February 2006, 20:20

Sean Browne

No More Model 70's?

I read that Winchester was ceasing manufacture of their Model 70. No word on any other manufacturer picking it up. Had always thought of having a model 70 express rifle in .375 some day. Should I be thinking about acting on that soon? Is this not true?

25 February 2006, 20:42

GeorgeS

USRAC has announced the closing of their factory. Whether this is true or just a negotiating tactic remains to be seen.

Needless to say, some sellers are trying to gouge buyers based on the expected discontinuation of Model 70 production.

I expect production of the Model 70 will resume quickly, either under USRAC or whomever Olin Corp. selects as the new licensee.

George

25 February 2006, 21:16

Iron Buck

[quote]I expect production of the Model 70 will resume quickly, either under USRAC or whomever Olin Corp. selects as the new licensee.quote]

I hope this ends up being the case. Does anyone care to venture a guess as to who may jump on board to take over & resume production? Or is USRAC just doing theOld Coke/ New Coke Thing that Coca Cola did in the mid 80s. Just building demand by saying something would no longer be available?

25 February 2006, 22:28

GeorgeS

I don't trust any other U.S.-based manufacturer to take over and do justice to the Model 70. Cooper and Kimber are too small, and Savage, Ruger, Remington, and Weatherby have their own reasons for sinking the M-70. I would not want Beretta to take over based on their poor customer service.

Miroku or Howa would certainly pay attention to fit and finish, and if they shipped barreled actions to the U.S. and installed the stocks here (like Stoeger used to do when they were the importer for Sako), they could avoid tariffs.

George

27 February 2006, 00:48

msorenso

I hope someone picks them up! But it will not be until 2008.. There was an article i read about anything made in the us cannot be duplicated until the 2008 year.. Anyone else know anything???

27 February 2006, 12:03

shootaway

Anyone interested in picking them up should contact me.Not that I have alot of money but in numbers we may have a better chance than winning the lottery.

28 February 2006, 03:44

Sendero300

I also heard the same thing..that the Mod. 70 could only be made in the states until March, 2008. It appears that we're in for a 2 year drought on these... at the least.

28 February 2006, 07:46

Iron Buck

And then.............."Made in Japan" M70s??????????? I wonder how the faithful will handle that

28 February 2006, 07:56

vapodog

Someone suggested that Saeed buy it.....and I for one would be delighted if that happened.....but seriously doubt it.
The M-70 is so uniquely American that someone for sure will resume manufacturing of it.....the price?....well...they still have to compete with the other companies.

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28 February 2006, 08:02

schromf

quote:
.............."Made in Japan" M70s

Yeah, made by Browning who is owned by FN?

Stranger things have happened under this ol' Sun.

28 February 2006, 18:13

msorenso

Well as I could see as well this amy be the case.. But I will state facts not my opinion,
If its is made in Japan, quality will not suffer.. At least the browing stuff is excellent but it will be a little tough to swallow.. I try to ignore it on my Winchester 45-90 & 405..

28 February 2006, 20:15

GeorgeS

You can always grind off the 'Made in Japan'.

George

28 February 2006, 20:39

lawndart

quote:
I read that Winchester was ceasing manufacture of their Model 70. No word on any other manufacturer picking it up. Had always thought of having a model 70 express rifle in .375 some day. Should I be thinking about acting on that soon? Is this not true?

Day late,
And a dollar short, mised the boat, never put off until tomorrow, etc. C.D.N.N. Investments had those rifles for $899.00 for the last year. Now they are $1,250.00, when you can find one.

28 February 2006, 20:47

Clem

What about Smith and Wesson? They don't have much for long guns. This would seem a nice avenue for them to get into the market with little or no product overlap.

Hmmmm.

01 March 2006, 06:34

Idaho Sharpshooter

I have this friend at Savage...
they are entertaining the thought of "chatting up" the folks at Olin RE the problem. Apparently Olin has told the clods at USRAC, et al that they would be the last choice for anymore rifles. He also says they (Olin) are considering resuming production if a suitable name lessor cannot be located in the next ninety days.

Rich

11 March 2006, 02:00

msorenso

Where dod you see it for 1200??? Still not a bad buy really!

11 March 2006, 02:11

Ohiosam

The owner of my favorite gunshop said his supplier told him they will be made in Alabama in 2 years. This was all about the overhead at New Haven. Seems like a reasonable senario to me. As long as there is a gun company doing business under the Winchester name it would be foolish not sell something you at least call "model 70".

11 March 2006, 02:52

vapodog

Winchester's website still shows the custom shop M-70 and of course the price is stiff. But one can still get them according to their website.

Looking at the rest of the line it seems 100% imported including a new .22 rim fire and a new semi auto rifle centerfire. It looks like a redesigned browning BAR.

Like the others I suspect the M-70 will be available to us common folks again in a short time.

11 March 2006, 13:07

shootaway

I called and asked them if they will keep making custom model 70's and was told they will stop sometime in March.The person on the phone said they had pages of orders for customs and only the ones that are finished before the set date will get their rifles.I was also told that the company has been for sale for the past ten years,and that there is now a set date for its closure this month.

11 March 2006, 17:24

msorenso

I hope they keep it up.. With the facts at hand lic. agreement up in 2007, and from what I read in a mag the american made models cannot be made until 2008 at best.. hope someone brings it back!!!!!!!!!1

11 March 2006, 19:58

Iron Buck

If Winchester can make a come back. Where ever they are made. I hope the quality is better than I have seen from Winchester over teh past few years. Small wonder they find theselves where they are now.

11 March 2006, 20:35

ACRecurve

I was a Model 70 fan for years. Their quality has steadily declined. Before I knew of this "demise" I changed to CZ's and have not been disappointed. Yeah, they're a little rough and clubby but they clean up nicely.

11 March 2006, 23:15

msorenso

I have really been impressed with the cz my self.. I noticed that they are doing away with the model 3.. After finding this horrible truth I went and bought three of them.... They are NICE!

12 March 2006, 00:11

El Deguello

quote:
Originally posted by GeorgeS:
I don't trust any other U.S.-based manufacturer to take over and do justice to the Model 70. Cooper and Kimber are too small, and Savage, Ruger, Remington, and Weatherby have their own reasons for sinking the M-70. I would not want Beretta to take over based on their poor customer service.

Miroku or Howa would certainly pay attention to fit and finish, and if they shipped barreled actions to the U.S. and installed the stocks here (like Stoeger used to do when they were the importer for Sako), they could avoid tariffs.

George

Since USRAC is owned by a non-U.S. company, which basically could care less about whether we have Model 70's or not, I don't expect to see them make a return to the market. We're just going to have to make do with Brownings, Kimbers, Rugers, Weatherbys, Dakotas, and oh, yes Remingtons and perhaps even the occasional C. Sharps Arms.....

12 March 2006, 01:14

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by El Deguello:

Since USRAC is owned by a non-U.S. company, which basically could care less about whether we have Model 70's or not, I don't expect to see them make a return to the market. We're just going to have to make do with Brownings, Kimbers, Rugers, Weatherbys, Dakotas, and oh, yes Remingtons and perhaps even the occasional C. Sharps Arms.....

I think they have a stake in the money paid for the rights to use the name and for that reason they will be back in short order. At what price?????...and made where?????in what calibers?????what options?????left hand??? stainless??? Maybe actions only???

There is a market for the finest of all (production) bolt action rifles.....and that demand will be filled. IMO the model 70 is not going away.....at least permanently.

12 March 2006, 01:36

msorenso

a name like that just isn't going to go away. But what I am afaid of is what are they going to keep making?

12 March 2006, 01:37

craigster

Yep, I can see it all now.

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