First Year Winchester Pre-64 Model 70 Standard .30-06 SPRG Bolt Rifle 1936
SOLD FOR: $1,726.00
LSB#: LSB260113DL001
Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Standard Rifle
Serial Number: 2886
Year of Manufacture: 1936, C&R (First Year Production)
Caliber: .30-06 SPRG
Action Type: Bolt Action with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed into a textured, ramped base integral to the barrel. The rear sight is missing and the dovetail plugged. The left side of the receiver is drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. There is a Lyman receiver sight but only the base remains. The top of the front receiver sight is drilled and tapped for a scope mount. The left side of the receiver has been non factory drilled and tapped for a scope base. There is a T2 scope mount with a Weaver 330 M8 scope installed. We cannot guarantee the functionality of optics
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one-piece checkered walnut with pistol grip, fluted straight comb, checkered steel buttplate and sling swivels front and rear. The LOP measures 13 1/2″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are scattered scratches, compression dents and other handling wear scattered throughout. The checkering shows some scattered damage. There is some weathered finish loss. There are no visible cracks. This stock rates in about Fair overall.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There is some stubborn copper fouling. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. There are some scattered scratches and handling marks. There are minor corrosion stains. The bluing is thinning on leading edges, the muzzle, and the bolt knob. The bottom metal is notably scratched. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions Correctly. The manual safety functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. We have cleaned this firearm and performed a mechanic’s check but expect many will want to clean the firearm again depending on their standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: scope as described above.
Our Assessment: This first-year Winchester Model 70 Standard Rifle stands at the very beginning of what would become one of the most influential bolt-action sporting rifles of the 20th century. Introduced in 1936, the Model 70 was Winchester’s answer to demands for a modern, controlled-round-feed bolt rifle that blended Mauser-inspired reliability with American sporting refinement. Early production examples such as this, bearing a low serial number and manufactured during the inaugural year, are particularly significant for illustrating the Model 70 before later wartime and postwar changes reshaped the line. These rifles laid the foundation for the Model 70’s enduring reputation as “The Rifleman’s Rifle” and firmly established Winchester Repeating Arms at the forefront of precision sporting arms.
Chambered in .30-06 Springfield, the Model 70 was offered in what was already America’s most versatile and widely respected big-game cartridge. The .30-06 brought a balance of velocity, penetration, and flexibility that perfectly complemented the rifle’s 24-inch barrel and controlled-feed bolt system. Factory sights originally provided a practical iron-sight arrangement, though this rifle reflects period and later user-driven adaptations, including receiver drilling and scope mounting that speak to how these rifles were commonly employed by serious hunters. The presence of a period-style Weaver optic further reinforces the rifle’s role as a working sporting arm rather than a static safe queen.
Condition on this example reflects decades of honest use while retaining strong mechanical integrity. Approximately 80 percent of the original blue finish remains, with expected thinning at the edges, bolt knob, and muzzle, along with scattered handling marks and wear to the bottom metal. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling, showing no erosion and rating a strong 9 out of 10 in this writer’s opinion despite copper fouling. Stock wear and checkering damage are present, but no cracks are visible, preserving the rifle’s structural soundness. Overall, this rifle offers a compelling opportunity to acquire a first-year, pre-war Model 70 that clearly demonstrates how these early rifles were actually carried, modified, and relied upon in the field during the golden age of American sporting rifles. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! MF
