Picked up an all original 1963 Winchester Westerner in 300 Winchester Mag(ser # 570xxx) today. Took her home and took her all apart for a needed cleaning inside and out. Once I pulled it out of the stock I could see a very small piece of paper all folded up nice in the bottom of the stock under the recoil lug. So I dug it out. Was a filled elk tag from Billings, Montana dated 2-14-78. Had owners name(Alan Lane) and address all filled in. Now I know shes a killer!! Anyone else find hidden gems in their rifles? O and I will be shooting it soon
Great score! Congrats on that rifle. Always been a dream rifle of mine.
Cool find too!
Great story and thanks for sharing!
I’ve found survival style fishing gear (hooks, line, matches, etc.) and extra bullets, but never any paperwork... but I always check!
BLR358: How interesting!
I wonder why that tag was placed there?
My next door neighbor owns ranches all over Montana (MANY of them!) and some he has partners with in ownership and in running of them.
One of his partners from eastern Montana was named "Lane" and I got to know his son and Hunted on the sons (also named Lane - Billy was the first name) ranch (just east of the Powder River) just after he bought it (2,005'ish).
Anyway the fathers name (again if I recall correctly) was Alan Lane - sadly he was killed in an automobile accident in eastern Montana a few years back now.
My next door neighbor attended the funeral of Mr. Lane over Billings way.
Back to the tag being there in the recoil lug cut-out - is the tag made of a waterproof material?
I am wondering if the previous owner used it there for pressure bearing purposes - or if he just placed it there as a memento/reminder of his Hunt on one of the Lane ranches?
Indeed it would be interesting to hear the stories Rifles could tell, if they could talk!
I remember the first Winchester pre-64 Model 70 in 300 Winchester Magnum I bought!
I answered a want-ad for said Rifle and travelled to the owners home in north Seattle.
Once there (1967'ish) I immediately bought the Rifle and then the owner told me the story behind the Rifle - he had purchased it new and bought it specifically to go on a Tiger Hunt with it.
He was a rather small man an alluded to the fact that the Rifle recoiled to much for him and even though he had killed a Tiger with it he was done with it - and I bought that mint pristine Rifle from him for a pittance!
The REST of the story was he had the Tiger's pelt made into a beautiful open mouthed rug and it was to large for the place he was moving to, and he wanted to sell the Tiger rug as well.
I went and viewed the Tiger rug downstairs in his basement and remember distinctly wishing I had the $900.00 cash he was willing to sell the Tiger rug to me for!
I have bemoaned my inability to swing that deal on the Tiger rug countless times since then.
I still have the pre-64 300 Winchester Magnum though!
I hope you get as much enjoyment and pride of ownership out of your "storied" 300 Winchester Magnum as I have out of mine.
Thanks for sharing.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Varmint, awesome story! If you'd like I can text/email pictures of rifle and tag to you. This may be a very interesting rifle indeed! Just PM me your phone or email.
BLR358WIN: Please E-mail me some!
[email protected]Yeah I been dwelling on not having that Tiger rug all day since I posted about it - refreshing my memory and the dissatisfaction with my decision back then.
Thanks in advance.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Very cool story. We always wish our rifles could talk and tell us stories of the adventures they have went on.
Pardon my being a little off topic but last year I was repairing a 1921 M1903 at a local post and when I removed the rifle from the stock a 1921 Indian head nickel fell on the floor. I wish there was a note attached to that one!
That's a great story. The first sentence was particularly appealing. I sure wish I could start a story with that statement!
Another unique story with some neat history. I cleaned an older Winchester model 52 - 22 cal. I believe heavy barrel? slow lock? ser# 233xx a 1931 DOM. When I took off the metal butt plate a note fell out. It was a bill of sale from the original owner to a gentleman in New Jersey dated 1951! I had to carefully put it back under the note was really starting to fall apart.
after reading these posts ,I was given a 30-06 model 70 pre 64 after my great old world war 2 vet-gunsmith friend died ,I now will put a note under this great old rifle too for my grandson or granddaughter. this year I plan on using this 30-06 pre-64 for the Minnesota deer too. very neat stories thanks for posting them ! Pete53
