Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors What is it about Winchesters

Fortunately for me, many of the great guns from the first half of the 1900's have a limited following. For example, truly great Remingtons, Ithacas and Savages can be had for relatively modest prices.

This pristine Remington 17, 28" full choke barrel, was $399 in March 2017



But pre-64 Winchesters seem to have an unlimited following.

What is it about Winchesters that makes them so wanted.

History. Movies, gun writers etc.

Are we all brainwashed (me included)

Especially when there are 21 viewing the ww site and 44 viewing the Savage site😂

Pre '64 Model 70:
Controlled feed with a big, tough extractor
Ejector that lets you ease a case out or send it flying
Safety completely captures the striker which is a very safe way to do it
Simple trigger that is easy enough to adjust and tends to stay adjusted
Can disassemble the bolt without tools (if you understand rifles, this is the real reason for the three position safety)
Up until mid-50's (don't remember exactly and am too lazy to go look up) barrels were cut one groove at a time and lapped, so they tend to be accurate
Bolt handle is forged onto the bolt. It ain't coming off.
What's not to love?!!

Bushmaster1313: I think the "interest" in older Winchesters is based on a well deserved reputation for quality, reliability, value for monies invested, accuracy, very pleasing design and the aforementioned and ONGOING popularity!
I abhor the current crop of savage Rifles as they may be accurate and dependable (I don't know personally because I would never buy one!) but their design (looks) and feel just seems clunky and cheap to me.
Sadly MANY manufacturers (Remington, Ruger etc) are following savages lead in this clunk factor!
Long live the pre-64 Winchesters (including shotguns, rimfire Rifles and centerfire Rifles).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The Winchester 70 is the last bastion of a quality American mass produced rifle available to the general public. I still very much like the post 64 CRF and that's about all that tickle my Winchester fancy. Virtually all collectors and people yearning for a "true" Winchester gravitate towards the pre64 M70. I'm doubly screwed as I am a lefty. Me personally, I feel for the M70 Pre-64 and post-64_CRF the way I do about the Weatherby Mark X Magnum. To me that is a "true" Weatherby. I don't care for the Vanguard at all. Sure, it may be an accurate, safe and dependable rifle much like a Win 70 push feed, but it ain't a "true" Weatherby. That's my 2¢. I hope I don't come across as a snob, because I am not. Its just as smithjrd stated about movies history etc. Never saw John Wayne holding a Vanguard. O'Connor was pre-64. There are sooo many nice rifles out there from many different makers, but I am in a Win buying mode now for awhile and don't see myself stopping.

Winchester Model 70, man do I love 'em. Especially if they were made in the 1950's and 1990's Classic's. Heck, I even have a push feed in 223 that I love. Hi, my name is Bill, and I think I have an addiction.

Once I got stuck on pre 64 Model 70's, nothing else really interests me. I thought I was done getting more....but I just hit the buy it now 5 minutes ago on yet another fwt...

I am in the same position now! Even the later model 70s don't compare, for me. Only wish I could have figured this out about 40 years ago!

I have others, and like several European rifles, BUT I always look at a Pre64 when ever I see one for sale.

When I was 12 years old(this would have been back in 1983) I was at deer camp and everyone was talking/showing their deer rifles. Someone yelled at an older gentleman to bring over his Winchester. The man's name was Ted, he was a WW2 veteran and saw lots of combat in Europe. A very quiet and peaceful man. He walked over and pulled out an absolutely gorgeous rifle. Said it was a pre 64 model 70 Super Grade in 243. The entire room got VERY quiet. Ted said it was the first brand new rifle he ever bought. I never forgot that rifle, even dreamed about owning one. Over the years I have acquired 4 pre 64 model 70s. and I love em! But my dream came true this past Tuesday when I purchased my very first Pre 64 model 70 Super Grade in 300 HH. Made in 1956. I have a picture of it on my phone, I cant stop looking at my dream that came true!

Great story BLR, you should share a picture.

If someone PMs me their cell# I would gladly send it to them to post. Thank You.

For me its the feeding and function of the M70's. The magazine box is straight walled and the underside of the rails and ramp do the greazy work. The classics have sheet metal mags with a lip. The ramp is still there, though not as polished, but the underside of the rails look like they have never been touched.

To me the winchester is a clasic & never thought I would own one.65 years later I bought a gunsmith estate & now I own 1873 - 44 wcf & a 1890 22 pump . When I get them back in shape I'll try to figure out how to post them on here .

Ron

One slight correction - the striker's not just "captured", but 'retracted' from the sear... But to answer that last question - I couldn't agree more..

Too bad the idiots at BACO had to change that trigger.. But - I digress...

Here are some of BLR358WIN's rifles. Very cool collection. I'll let him fill in the info on them.

1956 Winchester mod 70 SG 300 HH. Ser # 384xxx