Many of the high condition Model 70's are in the hands of collectors, those in the big dealer's displays at major gunshows should be viewed as suspect to have been "doctored". I traveled the gunshow circuit with some of these dealers and have first hand knowledge of their chicanery. There was an individual at that time that had barrel rollmarking dies and could provide these dealers with any rare caliber barrel they wanted. There were many bogus 7.65 and 9mm rifles showing up at that time. In recent times the "parts whores" are tearing down every M/70 they can get their hands on, selling component parts for outrageous prices. There also appears to be an effort at reproducing stocks, don't know the details on this one. Many "custom" Super Grade" stocks showing up, the word custom being used to avoid calling them original. Why would anyone go to the effort to have a custom stock made and have it be a very close copy of an original? Just doesn't make sense. As previous posters have advised, handle as many known original rifles as possible. that's the only way to be able to spot those that are non-original.
