Dating a model 70 Custom Shop rifle

Anyone know anything about dates of manufacture on model 70 custom shop rifles. Friend has one with a G2653 serial #. Thanks

anyone ??

I had one back in the 1990's. I called Wincester and they told me 1941! I don't think anyone knows! It was a G prefix 338 Supergrade. It was controlled round feed long before I ever saw or heard of the Classics. I think it was an 1984 model, but forget who finally told me, perhaps Winchester???

Originally Posted by sbrmike

I had one back in the 1990's. I called Wincester and they told me 1941! I don't think anyone knows! It was a G prefix 338 Supergrade. It was controlled round feed long before I ever saw or heard of the Classics. I think it was an 1984 model, but forget who finally told me, perhaps Winchester???

The first classics appeared in 1992 and were CRF...

Originally Posted by 163bc

Anyone know anything about dates of manufacture on model 70 custom shop rifles. Friend has one with a G2653 serial #. Thanks

Can you post a photo, what style and cal ? ect.? Some where I have a list of post gun SN# and dates. Finding it is the problem when you get half or sometimers! very best winpoor

Originally Posted by bsa1917hunter

Originally Posted by sbrmike

I had one back in the 1990's. I called Wincester and they told me 1941! I don't think anyone knows! It was a G prefix 338 Supergrade. It was controlled round feed long before I ever saw or heard of the Classics. I think it was an 1984 model, but forget who finally told me, perhaps Winchester???

The first classics appeared in 1992 and were CRF...

Their is a fella on another forums I go to sometimes right now he has a 5 digit super grade sn is G20xxx and he said he bought bnib in the lat 80's I have heard that Winchester made a run of these but who knows. Apparently they had a different SN range for the classics...

The very first 'pre 64 Classics' came out of the custom shop ahead of the 'classics' the response was so good they did the 'classic ' line ,How many years ahead of the classic line Im not sure but 5 years rings a bell..... very best winpoor

Originally Posted by 163bc

Anyone know anything about dates of manufacture on model 70 custom shop rifles. Friend has one with a G2653 serial #. Thanks

Early to mid 90's is as close as you can get without the documentation.

Classic's first started from the custom shop only, in 1990. Not sure how low those serial numbers started, but might have been G1. Custom shop numbers continued from there throughout the Classic years.

In 1992 when mass production started for the Classic, those numbers started at G15000.

Originally Posted by winchester70

Originally Posted by 163bc

Anyone know anything about dates of manufacture on model 70 custom shop rifles. Friend has one with a G2653 serial #. Thanks

Early to mid 90's is as close as you can get without the documentation.

Classic's first started from the custom shop only, in 1990. Not sure how low those serial numbers started, but might have been G1. Custom shop numbers continued from there throughout the Classic years.

In 1992 when mass production started for the Classic, those numbers started at G15000.

Hmm.... I've got a G10XXX classic and a G16xxx classic. I believe the production numbers started prior to the G15000 that you have stated. I seem to remember the Classic serial numbers started basically by filling in the missing, unused numbers in the early years and then followed a sequence at some later point. One of these days there may we may have some published data.

Originally Posted by 79S

Originally Posted by bsa1917hunter

Originally Posted by sbrmike

I had one back in the 1990's. I called Wincester and they told me 1941! I don't think anyone knows! It was a G prefix 338 Supergrade. It was controlled round feed long before I ever saw or heard of the Classics. I think it was an 1984 model, but forget who finally told me, perhaps Winchester???

The first classics appeared in 1992 and were CRF...

Their is a fella on another forums I go to sometimes right now he has a 5 digit super grade sn is G20xxx and he said he bought bnib in the lat 80's I have heard that Winchester made a run of these but who knows. Apparently they had a different SN range for the classics...

You got to remember some old fella's have chit for memory. I had a guy showing me a classic that was made in 1992 according to him. It was a 264 win mag. Beautiful rifle and was a 6 digit serial #.... We all know the 6 digits were made after '92. And not just by a few years...

Originally Posted by winchesterpoor

Can you post a photo, what style and cal ? ect.? Some where I have a list of post gun SN# and dates. Finding it is the problem when you get half or sometimers! very best winpoor

Don't have a photo. It is a 375 H&H in a very fine piece of wood w ebony caps and beautiful checkering.