Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Pre 64 Featherweight Prices

What would one expect to pay for unaltered featherweights? One is a 243Win and the other is 308Win. Both are in good shape and show little signs of use. Haven’t seen any featherweights for sale locally in a long time.

For clean rifles that aren't beat up I'd expect to give no less than 1200 and probably be looking for 1500-2000 for clean representatives of them. That's just my wild ass estimate on them, but I know BSA or one of you other lucky bastids will find one in some old ladies closet for 500 bucks with the box and the bolts never been inside the gun

Yep, unaltered I agree with beretzs...

Agree with Beretzs.

I feel like I lucked into one on GB last year at 1100. Early 308, unaltered, aluminum plate, solid bolt even. Came with a Balvar 8B. Haven't seen its kind go that low since.

Last month: Beat up .243FW later gun, with black buttplate, at the LGS, toe chip, boogered barrel and missing rear sight, no hood. Marked 975. With raised eyebrows, I said I'd give him 750 cash for it. He told me, no, he could get 900 for it. We have the kind of relationship where we're straight up, and so I believe him. It's gone.

LOL. Got that right buddy. You've been doing good on finding fwt's lately though.. As for the old ladies: Sometimes you have to take one for the team to find what you are looking for.. The last one lured me in and all she had was an old mossberg shotgun and a nice black powder and some old worn out 22lr's..

Hlol
Gave a wee bit more for one with a box recently; sadly I’m pretty sure the bolts been inside!

Devils in the details for sure; that last little bit of condition from 95% going to 98% will really elevate the price. Need pics for a better estimate but I agree with B above.

Thank you for the information.

And a case of boolits to go along with it just for good measure.

Not pre '64 but a local guy called and offered to sell me his '81 FWT in 308. Year back, I had put bases and rings on it for him and a little Leupold VariX II 2-7. Factory ammo only and probably 200 rounds through it, at most. He bought it new and has the original box, etc.

I need one of these like a hole in the head but $500 didn't seem too out of line.

Bragger! Good for you

I couldn't do it and still be able to look at myself in the mirror. I put $750 in the envelope.

He didn't notice until he deposited it.

haha that's awesome!

Agreed. Good man Al. Still a darned good deal.

HShunter36: Considering two examples of pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweights in very similar condition you should expect to pay $300.00 (three hundred dollars) more for the 243 Winchester than the 308 Winchester example.
I do know it was rather difficult and VERY time consuming for me to find a collector quality pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in caliber 243 Winchester for my collection.
Then, once I did over the next 30 years, I have added two more pristine 243 Featherweights to my collection - I do know this they are rarely seen in "unaltered" and "shows little use" condition nowadays.
And another "I do know" observation, I would not even consider selling my collector quality pre-64 Winchester Model 70 243 Featherweights today for $1,500.00!
I recommend YOU buy them BOTH!
Worry about the price and replenishing your bank account later.
OR.... turn me on to them.
Best of luck with whichever you decide to do.
Long live the Riflemans Rifle.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

If you guys have an unaltered good condition 308 featherweight for $1500, I'm a buyer! I've been looking for that specifically for 6 months!

Alright, I just had to clarify. You were close!! Found a cool little 270fwt, made in 1956. It will be good buddies with my 1956 30-06fwt. The 270 is well used and has an older (very good condition) gloss Leupold 2.5-8x36 on top. Should I feel guilty that I paid $729.99? Bought a standard weight 270 yesterday as well, for about the same price. Good day for 270’s I guess??

You have to have a horseshoe jammed deep into you BSA…. That [bleep] just ain’t fair.

The answer is yes. You should feel very guilty!! 😂 But I wouldn’t!

Need pics to evaluate this deal.

I agree. When I get home I’ll get some posted. That may be in a couple days. Here's all I have right now. Just as I bought it. The old ladies closet I snagged it from was dirty:


Kind of a sneak peak. The 1952 std wt is much cleaner. The fwt is worn, but I know how hard they are to find. I had to buy it.. I remember Bobin telling me that the 270 fwt's were generally well worn because guys used them. The first one I bought was immaculate and shot lights out. This one I bought yesterday is going to need a new recoil pad. Probably a red pachmayr. Definitely not all original, because someone cut the stock to put a recoil pad on it, but a great shooter and well priced. Because the stock has been cut, I may refinish it and also glass bed it. Rifle should clean up nicely. I look forward to tearing it down and going over it with a fine toothed comb. I will probably end up selling the Leupold 2.5-8x36, that is on it. Those are bringing upwards of $400 right now. I'd expect to get at least $350 out of it. The 1952 std wt also has a Leupold on it, but only a M8 6x gloss. Nice clear glass though. That may go on my Rem 788 30-30.