Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Tilden safetys

I recently picked up a 1942 Pre war M-70 in the 45XXX range.
The rifle is truly a thing of beauty but...
Here's the question.
What's the chances that the Tilden safety is factory original? (special order)

Its really not a huge issue but there's a couple of hints that this rifle may have been a special order job.(Super grade quality wood,and Lyman 57 sight.)
If it is then I really scored big on this one.

Any info anyone can offer on the Tilden is more than welcome.

Odds are that it's not original but it's one of the VERY FEW after market items that doesn't seem to affect the rifles value as it could be changed back if you wanted to and it was a common thing to do back in the day.

Pictures would sure be nice!

I have a prewar .257 Roberts that has a Tilden safety, I would not even think about changing it back to the prewar style safety. They are a period correct aftermarket part and they work great.

Pictures would definitely be nice....not something seen over here.

I'll get some up as soon as I can figure out a decent format. When I go the photobucket route they come out the size of postage stamps.

Fotosizer and jpg, jpeg cover most.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/39/tilden.jpg/


Thats a lot better. Also I will add that that is not my photo although it is now my rifle. These shots were taken by the fine Gentleman who sold this rifle to me.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/254/dsc01541bf.jpg/

And one more

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/22/dsc0150fa.jpg/

That is an interesting addition...I would leave it as is, and the rifle deserves to be used...well done.

In my 4 decades of studying this model, having about every book and article writen about them, I can say I have never read anything that indicated Winchester installing a Tilden safety. I handle and examine maybe 10o model 70's per year. I know it all, I

OOOPS, accidentally ended my above post, as stated I know it all, I thought. Just the other day on one of these forums I saw an untapped type III action. I would have bet my grandma's girdle that there was no such thing. My education continues.

Rule briefly mentions the Tilden safety twice in his book. Although it was never a cataloged option item it was available for special order rifles.
That's what got me wondering about the example I picked up.
Regardless I'm happier to have one with a Tilden installed than one with the original.
I can pick up an original safety if I really had to but I'd have a tougher time finding a Tilden.

Tilden safeties show up from time to time on eBay, I've seen a couple in the last six months or so. They usually bring a premium price.

I have 2 Tilden safeties, one on a '39 H&H length action and one on a standard '40 action opened up to .300 Win in addition to the transition II safety on a (1949) rifle 340 Wby.

I actually prefer the wings myself.

That's a beautiful piece of wood on that rifle, congrats on the purchase.

Excuse my ignorance here, but I'm wondering if the original pre-war safeties and the tilden types were 3 position safeties like the post war versions?

Thanks.