Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Pre 64 Winchester 70 Featherweight ???

Got a Standard Featherweight in 308, supposed to be unfired, 1953 mfg. About 98%, out of a collection. It has Winchester detachable sling swivels and a red Winchester recoil pad like you see on the Super Grades. I looked in Rule's book. He says they did not normally come this way. Does anyone have any ideas? Does this give it any extra value? ssome of the dashes are not clear. Poorly stamped?? The dealer assured me it was not a reblue. Thanx for you input.

I would look that one over VERY CAREFULY for ANY lightning of markings or bluring of lines to reassure myself it's not a reblue or "restoration" before plunking down any money. FAKE "like new" Winchesters are becoming all to common in the market. Caveat Emptor to the max!

If you had documentaton that it came from the factory this way, it might be worth more. But I would be very suspicious and without documentation, I'd consider it a shooter. BTW is the pad solid or webbed? Look on page 153 of Rule's book. The webbed pads were not used until 1959, so if it is webbed, that would be pretty good evidence that it is a parts gun. Good luck, Jim

The seral # indicates it is a 1953 rifle. The pad is solid. Would Hansen & Hansen misrepresent the truth? I had a long conversation with them. The upshot was "we have been looking at guns....this came out of a collection we bought etc. etc..." And they were willing to stand behind their evauation. That was one reason I was reassured. They got a little huffy when I said my gunsmth quetioned the blue job (the other smith in the shop thought it was original). Now the thing is I may not have known the right questions to ask, but the price was fair and I figure they knew a lot more about it than I do. And everything seems to be put together real well. It is a nice looking rifle. I would just be interested in knowing what I have. Questions did not arise in my mind until I bought Rule's book and read his description of a standard featherweight.

cb: do you want the rifle as a shooter (ie. to use it) or as a collector (ie as an investment)?

If you want a shooter, then the question is how much of a premium are they asking and could you get another shooter for less $$.

If you want it as a collector or investment, then the concern becomes whether you can convince the NEXT buyer that it is "original" and worth a premium.

OR, if you just LIKE it and want it...go for it!

Hope this helps, Jim

Cowboy,

M70 Featherweights in .308 did not come from the factory with a solid red Winchester pad. I seriously doubt it is original. I bought a standard weight .30 Gov't. 06 about 12 years ago with the same type of pad but the seller was correct in advertising it as not original. But...if you like it and it's not too expensive go for it and enjoy it. None of my Model 70s are collectors but I like them all for the shooters they are and wouldn't trade them for anything else. Thanks... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I agree with M70Man.

Who knows what it really is? That's why I won't pay a lot for a M 70. Let someone else pay the big bucks because they "need just one more Featherweight" to complete the collection.

They are real nice rifles, the class of thier era, and their owners can do with them as they wish. I shoot mine as that's what I want to do.

A old club member who passed away last year worked there for a long time. He was a tool maker and gunsmith and he said that they were told to use up all of the parts. He may have made that one in the Winchester factory for you or he may have made it in his basement also. Who knows?

Jim. OK My face is red. I described the wrong rifle. And I am interested in information about the rifles. I got the feather weight because I threw in a low bid on the internet and no one countered. I fully expected to be out bid. This is one nice rifle. It does have a ventilated Winchester recoil pad, studs are standard, swivels are Winchester detachable. The serial no is of 1953 vintage. Based on what you say. The pad had to have been put on after 1957 and the action if with a solid bolt handle is not featherweight, but a standard action. Barrel has "Featherweight" on it. Also a featherweight stock. So does this make it a parts rifle or could someone have just added a pad. All this seems to make it a shooter but the condition is such that I hate to take it out and scratch it up.
Next question. Standard 375 H&H (1958 mfg) has bolt and follower jeweled and a solid recoil pad (the basis for confusion) Is this proper for the time period? Rule is hard for me to read since one has to glean and be looking at the rifle as one reads.
Thanx for the comments and patience. I did not intend to get into the pre-64 Winchester 70 scene, but if one wants a nice rifle with a bit of pride in workmanship, I think you have to go back in time or custom. I had rather have the old ones. I should have bought Rule's book and then bought rifles. Any information is very much appreciated.

I have never seen a standard grade Pre 64 M 70 Fwt with either a solid red pad OR Winchester detachable swivel bases. Super grade stocks came with these swivel bases and the 1" thick solid red pad on some models (magnum as a rule) and possibly on special order. Are these swivels bases each inletted and attached with two screws? If not I suggest they are either after market or the original sling bows were cut off leaving the studs which can be drilled through and also usually slimmed a bit on the sides to fit commonly available detachable swivels.

Barrel stampings should not look rounded on the edges. If they are I would suspect rebuffing and bluing was done. What is the general color of the stock finish? Originals usually show some red tones under the varnish.

Does your forestock have a shnabel fore end tip? Late production M 70 Fwts with controlled round feed are commonly being referred to as pre 64 type actions but they are not actually pre 64 rifles. They do have detachable swivel studs and a thin (about 1/2")solid red pad.

Something doesn't seem correct in any event, but as other posters have stated if you like the rifle and the price was right it may still be a good acquisition as a shooter. Whether it was misrepresented is for you and a good observer to determine.
best

cb: let's take your email one point at a time
1) it has a ventilated pad and a 1953 serial number: it almost HAS to be a parts gun since ventilated pads were not introduced until much later (and to my knowldege, the only Featherweights that had pads were the 264 Mags in 1963
2) I agree with stocker: I've never seen a standard M70 with detachable swivel bases.
3) Solid bolt handle: I've seen old featherweights with sold bolt handles and later standard weights with bolts handles that were drilled. So I think that it has to do with the date of manufacture rather than standard vs featherweight.
3) Featherweight stock: I don't think there is a difference betwen the pre 64 featherweight and standard weight stock.

So...on the 308. I'd say you have a parts guns (albiet a very nice parts gun). If you want it as a shooter, go for it, but I wouldn't expect great appreciation in value, and if you are paying a premium, it's not a good investment, while it MAY be a good gun to buy for YOU.

With respect to the 375, I don't know of any standard M70's which have jewelled bolts. But I could be wrong.

I have been a pre 64M70 fan since the '50's and have owned a lot of them. But now I only buy "shooters" because, as others have said, there are lots of "parts guns" out there being sold as originals. I like to use and shoot them. And I am not sophisticated enough to try to spot the parts guns so I won't pay a premium.

Good luck, let us know what you decide. Jim

Jim. Thanx. I believe the featherweight stock has no hole for that fwd bbl screw and is lighter. Two holes in butt. I bought the rifles to shoot but in the event I sell them, I do not want to misrepresent them. I would like for them to hold their value though.