Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Stirring the pot - pre 64 Winchesters

Is it time to lay the "pre-64" Winchester crap to rest? That's almost 60 years ago now (for the younger kids that skipped math class). I have a "pre-64" Model 12. It's a very fine pump shotgun. I could shoot it another quarter million times and it wouldn't be worn out. It does the job for sure. I also have an early 90's Wingmaster that when compared side by side is a tin can, but in maybe 10,000 rounds (admittedly not that many) hasn't had an issue.
I will say I haven't been exposed to many Model 70's, although a cousin has a 300 H&H that is a might fine rifle. I just think we are so far past 1964 that it is no longer relevant.
I've put on my asbestos underware and kevlar vest, so flame and hammer away.

I don’t see there being a big demand for them in the future. The people that appreciate them are dying and younger shooters don’t buy anything you can’t call a “platform”.

Yes. Send your pre-64s to me and I will dispose of them properly.

Winchester Model 70's built before 1964 deserve to be SHOT by RIFLEMEN. I can't stand safe queens or the fetishistic prices paid for same.

I think there will always be a demand and they will continue to increase in value as they always have. People appreciate quality.

My next door neighbor and hunting partner has a pre-'64 Mdl. 70 in .300 H&H Magnum. He has killed several elk and deer with it. I think he is going to keep it.

L.W.

Take a look at the pre 64 checkering,inletting and machine work on the actions and tell me about quality. There was a reason they went the direction they did . Take a look at a new Winchester 70. Better all the way around.

This.

I own three pre-64's M70's and they are all "low cost" customs. Most recent is an early 70's Dale Goen's 6.5x55 purchased not long ago. I hope to have it out Friday for the first time.

It’s a quality benchmark…don’t think it’ll ever go away.

It’s also a selling point…that won’t go away either.

I’d guess it’ll always matter. More to the seller right up until it’s sold, then more to the buyer, especially when they might become the seller someday. 😎

Beautiful, EdM

Flawed logic...

Are you saying Winchester moved away from the pre-64 era guns to make them better, or am I misunderstanding you?

I’m in my thirties and I have 6 pre-64 Winchesters. I’ll own more as soon as this house is paid off and my wife and I build the casita which will include a reinforced gun room. 2 more years as long as the world keeps turning….

That appears to be what he said. It’s probably not the first or last mistake of his life.

When you are good enough to disassemble a bolt, take a good look at the machining that went in inside those early bolts. Cheapening the production cost of a Model 70 Winchester didn’t actually start in 1964, they started streamlining the metal work, well before 1964…

And it is well documented that the changes occurred as cost saving measures, particularly to compete with Remington.

This.

Here's my pre-64 Super Grade. You can easily distinguish it from anything they made after 1963.

I have a 16 gauge model 12 that I built from parts All the parts are "pre 64". It is a one of a kind, serial numbers do not match, probably no two parts came from the same gun, Skeet barrel, solid rib, crow foot safety, gorgeous highly figured chocolate colored Herters wood. It's about as perfect a grouse gun as can be had. When I get to the point where I am no longer able to shoot it, I am pretty certain it is going to make someone very happy and proud to own.

Over a lot of years I just accumulated parts as spares for my other M-12s and at some point I realized I had well more than enough parts to assemble a whole gun, plus I had the tools to properly fit them all together.

I like them. I don’t harbor any belief that they are the end all be all. They are just cool old weapons that work. Kinda like an old watch or hand fitted tool.
Besides, I’m a bit of a Winchester fan.

As to them holding or increasing in value. All one has to do is look at what M77’s and 700’s are fetching today. It’s crazy.

Post '64 Winchesters were cheaper to manufacture, end of story.

Pre '64 M70's shoot OK by me. 100 yard group during load development...





It's a boring rifle and I like them like that.