Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors I've got a hankerin' for a gopher special

In either .270 or .30-06 (preferred).

We sold one just 3 weeks ago in .243 Win. They’re getting pretty hard to find.

Gopher Special

Built my own - rebarreled a 1963 M70FW 30-06 SPRG with a Douglas FW barrel in 270 WIN. Used the original stock (I did glass bed it).

I like the looks of that rifle, a lot! Got a similar project in mind, contemplating a 7x57 or a medium cased 25 or 26 cartridge.

It was a fun project Pat, built it about 15 years ago. At the time I also considered ordering a 257 RBTS barrel for it but had always wanted a 270 WIN in the pre-64 FW so I went that way.

Nyrifleman: Many years ago I "got the hankerin" to collect a set of Gopher Special type pre-64 Model 70's.
And set out to do so!
I acquired two Gopher Specials over a period of nearly 50 years and that is as far as I got!
They are few and far between.
Currently my collection only has ONE Gopher Special in it - it is a minty specimen in 243 Winchester.
I sold the other Gopher Special I had in anticipation of replacing it with a nearer to mint condition gun - that has never happened!
Again these Rifles are VERY rare.
Are you planning on obtaining a collector quality Gopher Special in 270 or 30/06 or are you interested in a Rifle to Hunt with (heaven forbid!)?
Wishing you the best in your search but again I must relay that true Gopher Specials are VERY rare!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I believe Shrapnel may have one in 270.

He did a while back. I already inquired.

I understand the desire for one. I have always admired them and have sought them out to buy. But as usual when I find one the funds are not available to purchase..

Not a gopher special, but this one will be coming to Montana very soon to be my wolf special.
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/75/723/pre64-winchester-model-70-bull-gun-bolt-action-rifle

Link isn't working for me, although I'm sure it's a beaut!

Just a reminder that a true "gopher special", even when falling within an agreeable serial number range, cannot be verified without the receipt from the Gopher Shooters Supply store. I would say a safer label would be a "sightless pre '64 Fwt.". My contacts from two who frequented that store said that their serial numbers received in that special run were lost as no one realized the significance of such a variation. Rumor has it that a few 358 Win. came in too! But again, no paperwork such as an invoice or letters was ever found.
I've had four and Shrapnel has one of mine. My .270 Win. may be going on my next elk hunt in a few weeks.

Bigwhoop: SO.... are you saying there is a significant (or appreciable?) difference in value between a "Gopher Special" and a mirror image "sightless pre '64 Fwt."?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Not speaking for bigwhoop, but imho a genuine ‘Gopher Special’ documented with an original receipt as provenance would command a very significant premium over a mirror image, sightless pre64 Fwt....

^^^^
Poconojack,
You know the collecting market far better than I, so I'm not going to argue your opinion. The market decides. But it sure seems illogical to me at times. Unless I am missing something, the Gopher Special rifles were a special order run. A documented sightless pre'64 Fwt would be a special order that was ordered by someone else. if Salma Hayek had a twin sister . . .

^^^^
GunDoc7,
I’m not a collector, but know a few individuals who are very serious about M70’s. No doubt in my mind that if a Gopher Special surfaced with the original sales receipt there are one or two who would have to own it. You make a very good point about a documented sightless pre64 Fwt.. Problem is special order pre64’s with provenance are virtually nonexistent and without it one can never be 100% certain about a particular gun. There currently exists a cottage industry producing rare configuration M70, M61 (the market is presently flooded with these) and M71 Carbine barrels that are virtually indistinguishable from the originals. Personally, could care less about these guns because at this station in life I really don’t have the time or energy to deal with the uncertainty. As others have said before, genuine Winchester paper and cardboard can be VERY expensive.

^^^^

Pocojack,

The last line of your post is funny, but so true, and sure tells the story. I'm with you on collecting. Even if I had the bug and the funds to feed it, the high end collecting game has too much baggage that would take half the fun from it. I'm happy to own a few shooters in common chamberings. Besides, as I posted earlier, I believe those are what made "The Rifleman's Rifle's" reputation.

Hijacking the thread, what are the fake M61s flooding the market?

^

Bet that is a typo and he meant 71's...

^
Nope. It turns out the M61 market is hot enough for some dishonest bastids to get busy there too.