I would make sure I could cycle the action both to see how gritty and if it's hanging up any. Run some dummies through if possible. Check wood-to-metal fit, and sights for correct timing, Make sure loading gate is working correctly and just see if anything jumps out at you, finish, stuff like that.
As I understand it, the later-production rifles have improved quite a bit, so chances are you'll get a good one.
They fired everybody that knew how to make a rifle and the new people had to learn how....I think they've begun to get better at it.
I didn't NEED a .45-70 either, but I've enjoyed every minute I've owned one.
