Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Tell me about my rifle if you know

I swapped into this pre-64 Model 70 Westerner a while back. The serial number (4699XX) indicates it was made in 1960 if I am not mistaken. The rifle's got some honest wear on it, but is still appealing and a pretty good shooter.

What I'd like to know is how/why this rifle has provision for a rear sight (I have the rear sight stashed away, and intend to finish the filler insert later) but none for a front sight. The fellow I got it from had no idea why.

The roll marks on the barrel appear to be genuine Winchester. I'm thinking it may have been sent back to New Haven for rebarreling at some point, but the original owner didn't want the front sight...but then why in hell was the rear sight installed? It doesn't make sense to me.

Who knows why some things are they way they are. I saw a SG on Cabala's web site that had a Lyman receiver sight and no front sight. The barrel was clean meaning no provisions for sights either front or rear.

What is the barrel length?

It's 26 inches, I know what you're thinking. I knew I was leaving something important out of the original post.

Actually, it's closer to 25.9 inches bolt face to crown.

Easy answer. Someone sweated the front sight and ramp off. It was commonplace to do this back in the day.

Thanks BSA. I didn't know that could be done without damaging the finish. I've dragged the rifle back out of the safe to look at it with a magnifying glass (which really only reduces my blindness somewhat) and I can see no evidence of the removal. I don't really care...I snagged the rifle to hunt with and that's its best and highest use to me.

One more bit of ignorance purged from the core of my being, and it didn't even hurt. It's been a good day.

Is it just me, or does the buttstock look a bit unusual for a p64 M70?

Some of them had a bit of an oddly shaped grip cap, if that's what you're talking about. I've seen photos of others like it.

That stock has been reprofiled!

I agree.

I restocked my buddies 308 fwt, it had the front sight sweated off by a previous owner. The finish was worn off near the muzzle, so we decided to re-blue it. Here are some pics of what the barrel looked like before I cold blued it:




Here's what it looked like after cold bluing:



If an amateur, like myself, can make a barrel look this good, just think what a professional can do. I'm thinking the smith that took your front sight off, knew what he was doing and touched the finish up afterwards. You have a neat old rifle there, hunt it and love it.

Where has the shape been altered?

I thought I was going to prove you guys wrong...but I'll be damned if I can locate a photo of another Model 70 with a similar stock. Now I'm wondering what I DID see, and where.

Oh well...it's a shooter anyway. I don't think it's going feel poorly enough about itself to miss the next whitetail I get a shot at. I'll have to take the blame for that.

So anyway, I figure a rifle can be a lot like a woman when it comes to being the subject of a photograph. Give 'em the right background and the right lighting, and they can appear to be a lot more appealing than they really are.

Nice rifle RR, I put a red pad on it and find another front sight setup and have a smith sweat it back on, then load her to the gills with 140 gr Partitons for all things 264 WM.

Thanks, but actually I prefer the absence of the front sight. Already got a load, using 140-grain Accubonds about 3170. It oughta reach out and touch something if I can point it right.

That'll work too.

A lot of guys like the smooth barrel look. I think JOC helped to start that fad. I personally like having the option to use the irons, but now days a lot of rifles don't even have iron sights. I think you have a great rifle there.

What is the lop on the gun?

Thanks BSA, but it really is just a shooter...and, are you saying you can still use iron sights?? I could be wrong, but I get the distinct impression that you got me beat by a few years, and I have one hell of a time using iron sights anymore. Actually, that just gave me the idea for having the rifle rebarreled. If I can get about a 54-inch tube put on it, I might be able to use irons on it.


Poconojack, I am not sure but it feels just like the rest of my rifles, so I think it's real close to standar LOP. The recoil pad is an old Pachmayr.

The "reshaping" of the pistol grip looks like some of Bubba's finest work. Why anyone would do something like that I'll never understand.

Awfully hard to tell in the small pic, but it looks to me like someone extended the grip. Lay a straightedge across the pic right below the checkering and voila, standard M70 profile. I don't think one can call that re-profiling, rather adding wood.

Yes, there is wood added. Maybe it was done to extend the pistol grip, but I don't know why you'd do that unless it was to repair some damage. Or maybe a previous owner had gigantic hands. Hard to say.

A guy having that big of hand, would also have about a 17" length of pull... Just sayin.

Just saw this thread. Funny, most of what I'd say has already been mentioned.

I'm with gunner on the 140 PT's. Great bullet on the .264 WM platform. I love em.. my gun loves em. I also have a pre64 .264 Westerner w/26" barrel.. and both front and rear original sights.
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Was also thinking a guy with big paws extended the grip.

Enjoy it.