Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Pre-64 ???

I am interested in purchasing this model 70 pre-64 in .270win. The question I have is that if the original butt/recoil pad had a white line in it.
I am attaching a link to the rifle(copying it from the ad). I'll appreciate your feedback.
Thank you and God bless.

https://d27896rztcig3t.cloudfront.net/original/cNMN2RNOgeoQ1x7VjASqTB056dbiuvveKrM0AmY98C.jpg

Nope, pad is not original to the gun. Very unlikely that the gun was originally equipped with a recoil pad.

Hard to tell from pics, but stock looks a little too shiny. May have had a coat of something added....

That stock has been cut down for a recoil pad and also (badly) refinished.

To carry a M70 hunting I prefer the Featherweights in those chamberings.

How much is it?

He is asking $650

If you want that particular gun, it's not a bad deal.

I'd note the stock modifications, missing front sight hood and make an offer of $500.00 -$550.00....

Isn't there a federal law against rockin' a set of see-thrus on a pre-64?

John

Looks like somebody went 1 coat of tru-oil over the original finish.

John

I do believe there should be a law against any rifle with see thru mounts.

donsm70

Well Don, there's one good thing about that rifle, on those quick shots you could shoot from the hip- and still use the scope!

John

I have the same rifle (mfg in 61) with no scope. It has a White Line recoil pad as well. Reading "The Rifleman's Rifle: Winchester's Model 70 1936-1963", it identifies that Featherweights had the aluminum plate, Standard and Varmint rifles had the composite style butt plate, and Alaskans / Africans had a pad. However, at the time, when buying a Winchester, the Winchester Custom shop could provide pads if desired before rifles left New Haven, Connecticut. So, it is fair to say someone could receive a new rifle with a pad. None the less, primarily what you will research only defines what comes direct off the "production line" as a regular assembly or standard option. It is important to understand what "original" can be relative to valuation. That being said, it seemed to be a common practice to add pads post purchase. Without proper ordering information, it would be practically impossible to determine when your pad was added.
The Standard Catalog of Winchester Firearms (2007) gives the .270 from 1937-1963 a good condition rifle an est. $800 value. Keep in mind what goes into rating. This value estimation (is old) should be just a spot on the wall at best, but can be helpful.
The bottom line to your question is that the pad on our rifles is not "original" for valuation / collecting purposes.
I just bought my .270. As best as i can tell from your photo, mine is slightly more used than yours - I picked mine up for $500. I intend to restore the steel and wood (professionally) but keep a recoil pad on it (possibly not the one it came with).
On another note - took it out to my back yard to test fire. Prone at 100yds I put only 3 rounds down range, all were within the reach of a dime. I am quite happy about that. The group was approx 5" out at the 2 o'clock area, so I will also likely opt for a scope. This may very well be my "go to" rifle for the days ahead. Hope this helps.

Without proper documentation it is just another "messed" with pre 64 in less than original condition... Hint...

$650 isn't a bad price for that gun. The stock isn't original, but appears serviceable which means you can shoot the gun while you're waiting on a McMillan-made replacement FWT's in .270 are somewhat rarer than .30-06's, so there's that to consider as well. Note the "somewhat." Neither chambering is "collector" rare, but it just seems to me that I see 4 or 5 '06 FWT's for sale for every .270 I run across.

Do the socks come with the rifle?

The $$$650 price is way too high for a heavy standard grade with a messed up stock. You have to look at the filled in checkering and the white line forever or get another pad also.

Unless you have lots of money and are a very big and strong guy who hunts near the car pass on that one.

O45, the rifle in question is a std wt. Unless I'm not seeing it properly. Picture kind of sucks..

No, I think the price is about right.

I paid $700 for a .30-06 with a cut stock and figured I did good.

Pal, yours is a fwt and it's a lot nicer. The fwt's tend to bring more money than the std. However the 270's bring more money than a comparable 30-06. With that being said, the 270 std wt. rifle in this condition should bring $700.00...

It has potential that's for sure. I'd buy the gun trash those see thru mounts and scrounge up an original stock to replace the one on it or have it stripped properly refinished and recut the checkering and add a reproduction Winchester pad.

This, and it sounds like a fun project too.