Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Supergrade .458 Win Mag 25” Bolt Rifle, 1956 C&R
SOLD FOR: $4,175.00
LSB#: LSB250528MY110
Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Supergrade
Serial Number: 369611
Year of Manufacture: 1956 / ATF Classification: C&R
Caliber: .458 Winchester Magnum
Action Type: Bolt-Action, hinged floorplate
Barrel Length: 25”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tunnel sight with a brass-beaded post on a serrated base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a wide v-notch adjustable for elevation. The top of the receiver is drilled, trapped, and filled. The left side of the receiver is also tapped and filled.
Stock Configuration & Condition: A one-piece wood stock with a cheekpiece. The forend and semi-pistol grip are checkered. The checkering shows little wear and is still sharp. There is a Winchester butt pad installed, which shows moderate wear. The stock shows light wear with only a few scattered pressure dings and surface scuffs. The LOP measures 13.5” from the face of the trigger to the rear of the butt. There is a crack running from the rear of the receiver and another running from the back of the trigger guard. Overall the wood stock rates in Good condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: None
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp with some stubborn fouling. There is no visible erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: The finish of the rifle rates at about 97%. There are spots of oxidation scattered throughout. The floorplate and trigger guard show light wear from operation and handling. The markings are crisp and legible. Overall, this rifle rates in Fair to Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, as does the safety. The trigger has a crisp and clean break. We did not fire this rifle, but we did perform a mechanic’s check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: A monumental classic dressed in Supergrade trim: the beefy controlled-round-feed Model 70 action married to a stout 25? barrel built for heavy bullets and steady, repeatable performance. The rifle wears the hallmarks of Winchester’s pre-1964 workmanship — tight lockup, silky bolt travel, refined stock dimensions and premium checkering — scaled up to handle the .458’s serious recoil and long-range punch. The silhouette reads purpose-built and noble: deep-contour barrel, full-contact recoil geometry, and the kind of fit-and-finish that separates a mere field gun from a commanding magnum tool.
This 1956 Supergrade sits at the intersection of mid-century big-game ambition and old-school gunsmithing. The .458 Win. Mag., still relatively young then, was embraced by hunters and outfitters chasing heavy-for-caliber stopping power for dangerous-game and long-range heavy-bullet work; Winchester’s Supergrade treatment translated that raw capability into a finished, presentation-quality rifle that held its own in both camp and case. As a period piece it’s the kind of engineered statement that reflects 1950s confidence in American magnum hunting rifles — substantial, well-fitted, and unapologetically powerful. We are no longer offering layaway. Be sure to check our detailed pictures for a better understanding of the firearm. -C.R.
