Winchester Pre-’64 Model 70 Elaborately Engraved, Blue 24” Bolt Action Rifle, MFD 1953 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,793.00
LSB#:
160615PW08

Make: Winchester

Model: Model 70

Serial Number: 262576

Year of Manufacture: 1953 (Proof House)

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Bolt Action with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”, “WINCHESTER / TRADEMARK”, “MODEL-70—30-06 SPRG. “ and a circled “WP” proof. The right side of the receiver is marked “262576”. The left side of the receiver is marked “Winchester / Trademark” and with a circled “WP” proof at the chamber ring. The underside of the barrel is marked “1906”, and with “53” at the index line. The bolt body is etched with “262576” and the underside of the bolt handle is marked with a boxed “H”. The upper tang is marked “Z”.

Barrel Length: 24”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded silver bead dovetailed into a stippled ramped base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding sight that is dovetailed into a boss on the barrel. The sight has a reversible leaf with a white diamond aiming point in its center. The top of the leaf is a “U” notch and the bottom of the leaf is a “V” notch. shallow “V” cut unto the tops of the leafs. There are two drilled, tapped and filled holes in the top of the chamber ring, two more in the top rear of the receiver and two more on the left rear of the receiver for mounting a scope or a receiver sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one piece dark checkered walnut with a lacquered finish, pistol grip and Monte Carlo comb. It has a checkered steel shotgun style buttplate and sling swivels mounted on the forend and in the belly near the butt. The buttstock shows only a few very light handling marks. There are two dings on the left and right sides of the forend above the magazine floorplate, a ding at the left front of the forend and a few more light marks scattered over the forend. The checkering shows light wear in the grip area with a mar on the left side of the grip and light to moderate even wear in the forend section. The LOP measures 13 ¾” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows thinning, light wear in the heel and toe and light wear in its checkering. The buttplate is in about Very Good to Fine condition. The stock rates in about Fine Plus overall condition.

Type of Finish: The barrel, magazine floorplate and trigger guard are blued with a highly polished finish. The receiver is blued with more of a matte finish or rust blue finish. The magazine floorplate, trigger guard, receiver, and the top of the barrel out to the end of the forend are extensively scroll engraved. The magazine floorplate has an engraved embossed deer in its center and the screw heads are engraved with a starbust pattern. The top of the chamber ring was finely serrated. All of the engraving was done prior to the rifle being blued. The body of the bolt is jeweled.

Finish Originality: We think the rifle was refinished since the engraving is under the finish. Also, the markings on the underside of the barrel have been partially removed by polishing.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling shows light wear. There is no erosion. Our bore gauge measures a ME of 1.0.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its current metal finish. The barrel shows thinning on its front edge and on the edges of the front sight hood, and several light handling marks between the muzzle and the forend with a few marks through the finish at the muzzle. There is thinning on the embossed deer in the magazine floorplate and on the edges of the safety. The front edge of the bolt release shows pitting and has been ground off. There are wire wheel marks under the finish along the sides of the receiver, and some are visible just above the top edge of the forend. The safety serrations are sharp. The screw heads are sharp but the forend stock bolt is missing. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition as refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This is a vintage Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 chambered in .30-06 Springfield with a 24” barrel. The rifle has been extensively scroll engraved on the floorplate, trigger guard, receiver, tangs and in the rear half of the barrel. There is an embossed deer engraved into the magazine floorplate and all of the screw heads are engraved in a starburst pattern. The barrel, trigger guard and magazine floorplate were highly polished and then blued, while the receiver was left with a matte finish. The rifle is in about Fine condition as refinished with 95% of its current finish remaining. The bore is bright with light wear in the rifling and our bore gauge measured a ME of 1.0. The .30-06 Springfield cartridge is the one cartridge against which all others are measured – whether it be for muzzle velocity or felt recoil. The .30-06 Springfield makes a great cartridge for deer that is also good for long range shots on antelope and deer. With heavy 220 grain bullets, it can also be used effectively on all North American game animals. This is a BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED rifle, so please see our pictures. The pre-64 Winchesters are prized amongst collectors and shooters alike for the smoothness of their action and the quality of their manufacture. Whether you want to collect this Model 70 or shoot it, you are going to have to look long and far before you find a better looking one.

Winchester Pre-’64 Model 70 Elaborately Engraved, Blue 24” Bolt Action Rifle, MFD 1953 C&R
Winchester Pre-’64 Model 70 Elaborately Engraved, Blue 24” Bolt Action Rifle, MFD 1953 C&R