Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Anyone watching this week's episode of Beyond the Hunt?

Julie Kreuter's dad, Merlyn is hunting elk with what looks to be a well used pre-64 Standard Grade M-70. He looks like he's in his 70s.....would love to hear the stories behind that rifle!

End of the episode the guide says how cool it is that Merlyn killed the elk with his Dad's gun.

Very cool indeed.

Sounds cool, but I've never seen that tv. show. One thing I will say, when you come across a gentleman in the woods that is carrying a pre 64 model 70 you know they are just like us. Usually very willing to talk about that rifle and the hunts it's been on. I remember running into a guy out on in the woods during an elk hunt. In passing there was that usual nod and "hi, hows it going?" Then I see his rifle (a "well used" fwt). I say, "nice fwt" and he stops and says "yeah it used to be my fathers" and I say, "your father has great taste in rifles". We stood there and bs'd for an hour .

When I guided elk and deer hunters we got the usual bunch of hunters with brand new shiny guns in the newest boutique calibers, without a scratch on them. Many of these guys had a difficult time connecting with the target. Then an elderly man showed up in camp and instead of tell us guides all their hunting successes, he mentioned he was going blind. When he finally unlimbered his shooting iron, it was a standard grade pre 64 model 70 in 30-06 caliber, with virtually no bluing left, checkering worn beyond flat to almost non existent, and no finish of any kind on the stock. For the next six years he fired 2 cartridges a season. One for elk and one for deer. I sure miss his company.