Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Just Another Refinished Standard Grade

Thought I'd post a few photos of my '55 .30-06 standard grade, which went in recently for some cosmetic surgery. I found this one sitting on the front seat of a friend's p/u during a hunting trip...it was owned by someone else that wanted to sell it to my buddy. I bought it because it was in nice, but very used shape, and it was in '06. Bore was spotless, but there was rust on the floorplate, and the stock was missing most of the finish. I got it for $500.00.

I had my favorite gunsmith, Justin McMillan, refinish the stock, reblue the triggerguard/floorplate and smooth out, polish and re-cut the buttplate checkering (it was pretty beat up) and recut the stock checkering. Justin, also an M70 pre-64 freak, did the refinish with an eye towards keeping it looking original; we didn't want to make it "better". No re-bedding was done. The floorplate wasn't given a high polish, and the factory mistakes in the checkering were left in. I think it came out quite well.

I sold my pristine '49 M70 because it was too nice. This one's refinished (just the stock and floorplate assembly), so I can use it. It's wearing a favorite Lyman 4X Permacenter with a duplex. I shot it before the work; nice round 5-shot groups of just over an inch with Win 180 grain factory sofpoints. THIS is the M70 I've always wanted. And it goes well with my other standard grade in .270. It's a working rifle.
Bob

Nice work....

Yep beautiful.

Very nice I had a similar experience with a FWT 308. Almost no stock finish. It's a great shooter now.

Nice work.

Very nice.

Very nice rifle sir, thank you for the pictures.

Very nice M/70, I have the same scope and mount on my prewar .257 Roberts.

A keeper for sure.

I'm drooling. Your frined, Mr. Mcmillan, does some fantastic work. You need to tell him we are drooling over here!!!! Thanks for sharing. I'm really liking it. Your pictures are always very professional looking too. Great job!!.

That is just a really pretty rifle. To me, there is just something about the "Winchester Red" stock color. Standard M70s may not be super flashy, but they are "quietly classy", and this one is all that.

Very tasteful and thoughtful "refereshing"! Not "all over", just where it was most needed, and back to original appearance. If you want to do something to old rifles, this is IMHO, exactly how to go about it.

As I said in another post, I think the standard .30-06s and .270s, along with the .375, are the rifles that made the reputation of the M70.

I also happen to like one piece bases.

I notice the rear sight slot has a filler. What did you do with the front?

My hat off to you sir, I guess Im not a puriest as I love to see these ole gals brought back or up to good looking and hunted like they were built for! very best winpoor

Hi GunDoc
I left the front sight on the rifle. It looks "right" on an M70. Rear sight (and front sight hood) was long-gone when I got the rifle. I put a rear sight slot blank and front sight hood on for appearance.
Bob

Looks fantastic.
Great job!

Nice rifle and great choices doing the "refresh"!

yep, looks like you brought it back just the right amount. Fine job.
John

I hear you about the "looks right." Logic tells me to pull the hood and both front and rear with mine and fill with proper width blanks. But "looks" say a M70 should have a slick barrel or a sight and hood. Even "loonier", but I am on the correct subforum for it, is I worked a bit to get a vintage having the integral to the barrel front sight ramp! Go figure.

I don't know what you paid for the refresh work, and I don't really care. I suspect you are sitting pretty good on the whole deal. What I really commend you for is being able to see what was possible when you first saw the rifle on the seat of the pickup.

Where you at in Texas?

Very nice!

New Braunfels.
Bob

Well then, I got you bracketed! I was born and raised in San Antonio, and have lived in Austin for years. And spent a lot of time on Lake McQueeny back in the day.

Beautiful work...wish I knew what finish he used on the stock....gorgeous!

Now I know what to I want do with a 'pawn shop rescue' transitional, thank you for posting those excellent pictures!

Beautiful rifle. He did a great job with the refinishing work. Congrats!!!

Eric, I'm picturing the Alaskan's stock being refinished like that. Has that thought crossed your mind too?? Maybe a new galazan (Winchester reproduction) pad too????

Been thinking about exactly that for my next M70 project...a battered .300 H&H that needs the Winchester red-pad treatment and a refinish. Here's a couple more photos of my re-born .30-06 standard. I like this one.
Bob



Justin just pointed up the checkering, leaving the factory imperfections in place. Color of the refinished stock is awesome.

He's damn good!!!

Plenty good. Color is just right. Where are you going to use it that you'd feel embarrassed being seen with this?

BSA, I like your idea!

RGK, would you mind sending over the contact info for your refinishing guy?

Cheers,
Eric

I don't know what the smith used but is is the best I have found.

Winchester Restorations Stock Oil by John Kay


http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/141367678994

Its always nice to see an old warhorse get spruced up. Thanks for posting.

Eric, if you get the info I'll send the stock to him. Maybe we can split the cost. Let me know what you think....

Your Model 70 project looks really good. That should be a lot of fun to work with.

BSA, I'm looking into it. Would be sweet if it works out!

Eric

THAT says it all.

Very, very nice RGK, good on you for giving this old girl more life to live, I had the same thing done to an old pre-64 model 70 I bought several years ago.

My guess was the stock was heavily oil soaked from years of cleaning/oiling and standing in a gun safe or closet, I was simply not willing to let that old girl oil rot to pieces, at that point I'd have 'NO' rifle stock at all.

Beautiful rifle. Can you post he smith's contact info? Curious as to the approximate price of the stock work.

Jeff

Really nice! I would also like to have the smith's info. Got a 1957 M70 That would greatly benefit and I would love to "bring back".

Also would like gunsmith's info and type of stain used.

Sorry about the confusion...my gunsmith is primarily a "metal man" and HATES doing stock work. He did my stock as a favor. We've been buds for over 20 yrs and I wanted to showcase my rifle; he's also a pre-64 70 freak. We wanted to see how mine would turn out. He won't take on any stock work. The stain he used was from Galazan's...pre-64 stain, I think.
Bob

rats. I too am very impressed with this work. That rifle looks great I think. Congrats

Bob,

That rifle came out great and was exactly what you described when you said you wanted one you could hunt. Your bud did a great job on the refinish work. If he's the guy you told me about, I suspect I know where he works and it doesn't surprise me too much as to the level of quality. Good on ya. Now, go poke some holes in stuff with it.

Dale

Delete...double post.

Roger that mtnman1, and yes, you're right. Going to kill a pig or two this weekend with it. I gotta get up to your casa for some pictures of your knives and to get a nice drop-point made.
Bob