Winhester Model 70

[jim2914]

I am trying to find out when the gun's were manfactured and some idea of their value. It is a Winchester Model 70 270 WCF, the serial number is 52310 it was purchased new by my dad who used it for hunting it never had a scope on it. My mom said he purchased soon after he returned from WWII. I also have another one which is newer or it looks like new it is a Winchester Model 70 300 Winchester Mag. The serial number is 571051 My mom purhased this for my dad back before my brother was born around 1962 it kicked him to much so he never went hunting with it. I also have yellow tag that hangs off the trigger it tells about the gun it says Symbol No 7036. Both have been in my family since new and we would like to have an idea of when they were made and a value. .

Thanks,
Jim

[jerseyboy]

I have a Winchester book and it says that #65,420 came out right after WWII. Hope it helps.

[wraco]

Originally Posted by jim2914

I am trying to find out when the gun's were manfactured and some idea of their value. It is a Winchester Model 70 270 WCF, the serial number is 52310 it was purchased new by my dad who used it for hunting it never had a scope on it. My mom said he purchased soon after he returned from WWII. I also have another one which is newer or it looks like new it is a Winchester Model 70 300 Winchester Mag. The serial number is 571051 My mom purhased this for my dad back before my brother was born around 1962 it kicked him to much so he never went hunting with it. I also have yellow tag that hangs off the trigger it tells about the gun it says Symbol No 7036. Both have been in my family since new and we would like to have an idea of when they were made and a value. .

Thanks,
Jim

Jim:
Winchester stamped serial number, 52310, on the receiver of your Dad's Model 70 between Oct. and November of 1942. Winchester stamped the last M70 receiver, before gearing up for WW II, at 52548. So your Dad's M70 was one of the last Pre-war M70's.

Some of the later pre-war receivers weren't built up to finished rifles until the end of the war, but the ser # makes it a pre-war M70 worth a premium over the post-war models. The gun is worth more if there are no scope mount holes drilled in the rear of the receiver. There will be two holes drilled on the front of the receiver only. The gun should also have a checkered steel buttplate as very few were special ordered with a solid red Winchester pad.

Your Dad's Model 70, serial number 571051, was stamped at Winchester between April and May of 1963. Winchester stamped the receiver of the last pre-64 Model 70 in Oct of 1963 at around ser # 580755. they allowed room for a few more receivers as parts inventory up to around ser #581471.

Your Dad's pre-64 M70, in 300 Winchester magnum, is a rare gun. The 300 WM was chambered in the pre-64 M70, only in 1963, with a total of 4916 made. The 300 Win. Magnum was included in the Westerner/Alaskan models which came from the factory with a ventilated red Winchester recoil pad. The stocks on most of the last Model 70's, were not up to the usual quality. The walnut was a poorer grade and Winchester had switched over to machine checkering that was poorly done and the patterns had less coverage. The stocks were flatter and the pistol grip was of a larger radius; all to accomodate the machine checkering. But nevertheless, the value of your Dad's 300 Win. Magnum is comparable to that of the 338 Win Mag, 257 Roberts, 375 H&H Mag. because of rarity.

Value is what they'll sell for. You can determine the approx. value by searching "Guns International" and "Guns America" to find out what folks are asking and search "GunBroker.com" to find out what people have paid in the auction.
Three Main Factors determine value:
1. Rarity
2. Originality
3. Condition (NRA Rating)

You've got a couple of nice guns, good for you. Look after them, keep them original and enjoy them.

Regards:
Rod

[jim2914]

Thank You for the Information