Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Pre-war Model 70 30government06 ballpark

The LGS has a 1939 Pre-War Model 70 30/06 with a lyman 48 peep sight in a conservative 95% condition at 2K. It is very smooth as if the bolt has been worked a lot but it doesn't look like it has been hunted as much or likely at all. The condition is superb. I guess without pictures, it is useless. I am interested in the rifle but the price is a little steep.

For an unmolested prewar M/70 .30-06 $2K is certainly more than just a "little steep". If the price is not negotiable I'd pass.

Well, I don’t think that an unmolested Pre War in a conservative 95% condition is more than a little steep. It may be a little, but if I was holding one that was all correct in my hands in that condition and I wanted one, I would be thinking about it for sure! In my area, I don’t see a lot of really high condition ones.

If uncut/undrilled/untapped I don’t either, especially based on what has sold recently

Was the stock cut to accommodate the Lyman? If not I would agree with knives and AK. Those prewar model 70’s have in great or even good condition have been bringing good prices lately.

Factory.

Unmolestered Pre-wars are getting tough to find. Most have been drilled in the back or side, have been cut for a pad or some genius sunk a compass in the stock. If it truly is 95% $2k is obviously on the upper end but that is their ASKING price too.

Kaboku68: The pre-war Model 70's are virtually all "very slick" when the bolt is worked.
I have a mint condition first year production Model 70 "Bull Gun" that's bolt operation is so smooth its like butter compared to my latter vintage Model 70's!
I don't know the secret to this but I am not surprised by the comparative smoothness of the pre-war Model 70's bolt operation anymore.
Indeed the $2,000.00 asking price is "strong" but if all original and the bore is shiney - I say go for it with your cash in hand offer, starting at $1,750.00 and work up slowly.
Our monies (United States dollars!) are becoming less and less valuable monthly under china joe biden and his ho - as of now $2,000.00 is only worth what $1,860.00 was just last year!
I say buy that rarish Rifle at the best price you can finagle and enjoy the pride of ownership in that classy Rifle.
I bought my first pre-war Model 70 years ago and it has beaten inflation in its appreciation - noticeably!
Finding a factory original unmolested 95% condition pre-war Model 70 is getting to be VERY hard to do.
Best of luck to you with what ever you decide to do.
Long live the Riflemans Rifle.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

For better or worse, I am putting it on layaway today. I will try to get some pictures. He sold me a model 71 for 1100 last Spring so I am unlikely to welch on the offer.

Pre-war Lyman 48's required the stock to be cut. The 48WJS debuted 1947 and was contoured to fit around the stock.

Many of you can throw stones at it but we don't have a lot of old guns that are local that are in this shape. Like I said..I may be paying a premium but I like the shop and he lets me pay in installments. He has given me some of the nicest deals and firearms so I am not grumbling.

It looks like you are paying a premium for a premium rifle. Whatever you gave it is not too much. It may be too early, but it will be that that and more down the road. I think you did great, not just OK, but great.

I agree. They aren’t making anymore of them and they’re rifles that can be used and still gain value. The P64 is the best rifle ever in my opinion and that’s a gem you’ve got right there.

Different Strokes!
I like your purchase, and I would have, and have done in the past, the same type of purchase! They are getting harder to find, and more people are realizing that, for what they are.
I would love to see you put the pics up, and ask on the WACA Forum site. There's a particular gentleman over there,(Louis Luttrell) that is second to none, and really is an Expert in pre 64 model 70's! A lot of good comments above, that I agree with, and a few that I don't. Again Different Strokes! I'm an old school Wood Guy, vs. today's plastic stocks, which do have their place, don't get me wrong.
IMO! This was a great find, for you, and, you have a great working relationship with your LGS, Enjoy!

Seems a bit pricy. I bought this one last year. A March 1938 build one, for $900. It is not original though as it had been drilled and tapped and a Tilden safety installed but it and the 2.5X Lyman Alaskan are certainly period correct. Overall I'd say NRA Very good condition (on the antique guns scale)



Other pics and thread @ https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...bought-a-time-capsule-today#Post15446868

I would say yours is half the gun, based on the photos.

Unmolested... illustrated on page 60 in Roger Rules "The Rifleman's Rifle"

Well, now we're talking pinnacle. That is a beauty Whitebird, you have some exceptional Winchesters.

You’re just horrible!

Keeping it real... .