It's in about 90% shape, has lyman sights on it, and just a blah stock, but it fits well -- is this about the right price?

It probably is for the "collector" value. I would still rather buy a Waffenfabrick-Hein action and spend a little more money ($4,000) on a custom new manufacture Mauser type action than spend that much on a pre-64 Model 70. The last one I bought, admitedly was a plain-jane featherweight in .30-06 but, it only cost me $500.00. They are nice and smooth though and ready to go for a medium bore DG rifle.

That is about $700 more than the last one I handled, which was very nice by the way.

jim

$2500! Heck, I wouldn't do it. For about $800 you can get a brand new CZ .375 H&H. Spend a little money and get it worked over and you will have a lot more gun for a lot less money. For about $1600 you could get yourself a new Ruger Magnum.

I have never owned a pre-64 Winchester but I have owned a lot of the stuff Winchester turned out later including their post 64 controlled round feed gun which was supposed to actually be better than the pre-64. I have NEVER understood the Winchester mystique. I don't care if they never come back.

Dave

Hello,
Well you need to remember some of us older folks still recall Jack O'Connor and his magical Model 70 in 270 and still carries a lot of weight. When I left Alaska I had 10 of them in Super Grades and std. ones and they were nice rifles, but you could see if looked closely the file/sanding marks by the builders but that was considered as character marks and everyone liked them and bought them. I sold my 375HH several years ago and got 1500.00 for it and figured that was more than it was worth, but many still cling to them and they are sort of an American Classic which is nice to have. As for the Ruger RSM, personally believe it is twice to three times the rifle any pre 64 Winchester I owned, but that is just me. In time the RSM's will be collector items of first order.

The P64's are not holding value compared to buying a lot of other things. That would be a tough buy in a 70% standard grade. I think if I really wanted a 375 to hunt with, it would be a CZ or building one on a P14/17/M30. Very solid actions, and make into a medium weight 375.

The only criteria here is, if you want it, try and negotiate about $250...ten percent off is going to work for most guys. Be sure to take the action out of the stock and see what the factory caliber was. It should be stamped on the receiver front lug.

Rich
DRSS

How much will you pay for a classic? The M/70 .375 will always be in demand, and the price will go up. The chambering is marked under the barrel(As well as on the left hand side of the barrel above the stock) not on the recoil lug. A .458 marking on the recoil lug states that the action was made for a short magnum, i.e. .264,.300 Win. Mag.,.338 Win. Mag., or .458. These guns are getting tough to find. If you can, bring someone with knowledge on these find guns to inspect it before you purchase same.

I handled a RSM at the same time -- they wouldn't let me open the action on the Ruger though (strange shop) I thought the Winchester would be a better gun -- the Ruger balanced OK for me, but my buddy thought it was too heavy. (I'm sticking w. my 375 Ruger Alaskan, since it seems to be handier than either, and at a more "airline worthy" price range.

Well, 90% is better than 80%, I suppose, but the Lyman sights step on it real hard. Asking is probably $1,500 more than it's worth.

But, hey, everything is relative, and you have to consider what's out there. If a new CZ .375 is legitmately worth $800, then your buggered pre-64 M70 is a $5,000 rifle. So hey, go for it, it's half price.
-----------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Unless you need it yesterday,haunt the gun shows.should be able to find one for $1500.300H&H are going for$800 around here.with a pad&sidemount$700.not that some arent asking a lot more.pre-64s are nice guns esp.the 50s vintage.only custom i kept was a Biesen fwt 270 in the arrowhead pattern checkering.

I have two in .375; the Lyman sight did not require extra holes to be drilled - they were drilled for that sight at the factory. That said, that seems a little high to me. I expect you can find a nice one for $1,800. - $2,000. if you keep looking, but I'd be surprised if you find a 90% rifle for $1,500. I have a bunch of pre-64's, & they're (a) getting harder to find at reasonable prices, & (b) an EXTREMELY slick action.

Seems in my youth as I used to dream of guns and far away places I used to see that particular Model 70 in ads with factory optional Lyman reciever sights. Especially in the Stoegers catalog of the era which was truly my 'bible' at the time. Just looked at the Stoegers for 1940 and their ads show the standard with 57W as optional and the Super Grade with a 48WJS as optional. I don't know whether these were Stoeger switches or from factory. Belive my old Winchester catalog showed these as optional also but can't find it. At that time for me 1949/1950 that was THE dream to own a Model 70. Now own 3,one 1939 custom,one 50's transition in 270 of course and it does indeed have a Lyman WJS that I believe to be original, One stainless classic custom in 375 that has accounted for most of my African game. I STILL think they are fine rifles and I currently own a Brno ZKK 602 and a CZ 550 and HAD a Ruger RSM in 416 Rigby which I sold to a member of these forums and he has subsequently used it to take an Elephant. But I still believe the Model 70 to be the standard I measure all others against and in truth that includes the vaunted Mauser and I have several of those also.

Nope. You can build a much better rifle for that price.

Gentlemen

It might seem a bit high proced!
BUT if the action is smooth and everything in good working order it is still one of the best CRF rifles in the world.
I own several Original Mausers, DWM 1909 Mausers and a Heym Magnum mauser. However my Pre-64 .375 H&H is the best and smoothest CRF Mauser style action in the safe.
If you apreciate this type of action you will find you self ready to pay a little extra for the last smoothnes that a fine pre-64 has to offer.
The Long Action LA pre-64 is getting harder to find these days and the price will not come down only up IMO.

Here is a picture of my super grade .375, it is from 1949. Scope is Zeiss 2.5-10X42 Variopoint

You might hear about other owners bought pre-64 for les that the one your found BUT this is the one you have on hand.

Cheers,

André

PS
Here is a dam fine super grade price $3,850.
http://www.hallowellco.com/winchester_model_70_SG%20375.htm

I was lucky enough to come across a pre-64 (1941) 375H&H some years back and I did pay a premium price for it and would do so again. Smoothest working action I have ever tried this side of a Mannlicher and flawless feeding. The last rifle I will ever part with.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
It's in about 90% shape, has lyman sights on it, and just a blah stock, but it fits well -- is this about the right price?

While I really like Pre-64 .375's, I think it is too high even in today's inflated market. Bought my first one of them like new in Kansas City in '62 for $100.00. Wasn't smart enough to keep it. Always something I wanted and could trade for, I guess.

Ag.....It's a little high. But the Lymans probably came standard from the factory, and they add to the value, rather than diminish.. Let them other guys have their CZs, and Rugers. Make an offer, (Sharpshooter's 10% should work) and BUY it!!!! You'll own one of the smoothest, most reliable, hunting rifles ever made. And you will have a treasured heirloom to pass down to future hunters in your family........ Grant.

Sounds a bit high: you might check the Griffin & Howe website; they may have a couple

Griffin & Howe is way overpriced. They're clueless even. Go there and find the USED CZ 550 375HH hogback for $950!

I think the post 64 Classic Safari Express is a better gun (the one(s) I have of course). Well not alot better but I've compared them and why would you spend that kind of money. You can get 2 for the price of 1. The last nice pre 64 375 I saw sold for $3500, TWICE!. You can buy 3 newer ones for $4500 and get 2 other calibers.