Pre-64 Model 70 that is.

So, I missed out on the last one, long story, and was looking at this other rifle when I noticed this very curious thing. The serial number etched on the bolt body does not match that of the receiver. They are off by one number, the last digit. They are consecutive however. That is to say that for example they are 222224 and 222225. I'm not quite sure what to make of that. Seems very unlikey that it coudl have happened once it left the factory, or was it simply a little mistake on the assy line?

Any thoughts on this? I would be a bit nervous about shooting it without it being checked out by a competent gunsmith, or am I just being paranoid. The rifle looks pretty good otherwise, all original, I think, but this issues seems a bit too strange to dismiss.

Input and comments appreciated.

Bob

Blackbart
I would not fire it till it was checked out.

Jeff

Bart, Can't resist this one . That is very close to a 7x 57 especially made up for the brother of the Shaw of Iran in serial number. The Prince was a world class hunter, who was fluent in several languages but
Jack O'Connor puzzled him when he referred to it as the 6 deuce rifle. He didn't play American card games. This one was made about 20 some thousand ahead of that sequence of numbers and you might not find it as an anomily in the serial number lists. When you customise one like that you are not apt to forget caliber, Or the S/n. The factory had been out of that caliber barrel for several years. The number assigned had to do with a running banter Jack had with the prince about forgetting serial numbers, so 2 arms, 2 legs, and other paired equipment discussed varied with the moment. The assemblers etched the bolt number, but things happen when cleaning the rifles after test firing, so the advice to get the headspace checked IS in order. tmb

Thanks guys!

Tom-

Was hoping that I may catch your attention on this thread. That is a really interesting tidbit of firearms history! I'm always surprised what you can get done when you have some "pull", even with the big boys.

Well, this rifle will stay in the rack at the shop, not worth getting involved with at the price they want when there are only several hundred thousand others out there to choose from. The guy at the shop insisted I was nuts for even questioning it though. They always think they know MUCH more than any person who might walk through the door. In fact, I thought about how funny in might be if you were to walk in to one of these "gunshops" back east. Probably wouldn't hurry back anytime soon.

Regards,

Bob H

I had a .270 STD. some years ago with a mis-matched bolt number. I was the second owner and the original owner swore that he purchased it new and had never changed anything; this was also the only rifle he had. It headspaced fine and shot superbly well, so, I didn't worry about it. I think that this probably happened once in a while, but, it should lower the price of a given '70 if you find one like that; if not, I'd walk on it, too.