Winchesterpoor: I am glad someone else answered your question directly.
I also am of the opinion that these Rifles are very rare in untampered with/original condition and are very seldom seen as such anymore.
I would rate both of my National Match Rifles at better than 95% condition and are all original, and I would not consider selling either of mine for less than $3,500.00!
According to the learned, handsome and dynamic Roger Rule the percentage of total production of pre-64 Model 70 Rifles that were National Match style came to 00.34%!
So indeed the National Match is one of the rarest styles of Model 70 - the only two RARER styles being the Model 70 African and the rarest being the Model 70 Supergrade Featherweights!
Total production of the Model 70 National Match Models was 1,971 Rifles, and of those I doubt if less than 50% of those are not "modified" in some way!
Best of luck to you on your "negotiations".
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Agreed but I don't consider an African style, just a SG in a different caliber. Kind of like calling a 264 a Westerner.
I'm betting one of the reasons there were so few made is that the only people who would buy one over a target barreled gun are people who actually shot the competition that required the lighter weight guns. And target shooters are notorious for modifying their guns.
I had a NM and it was neat just because I knew how rare it was but I couldn't see buying a light barreled target gun over a heavy barrel unless required to for actual use.