Last month I spoke about Parker .410 shotguns, their rarity and how subtle differences command premium prices. This month my article will be based upon one of the most sought after and often the most misunderstood of the Winchester rifles - The Model 70 pre-64! These rifles came in numerous calibers from .22 Hornet to the .458 Win mag as well as twenty or so other calibers in between. I will critique three separate rifles this month. All three of these are uncommon and rarely encountered. The problem with these types of rifles is that they aren't listed as production rifles. They are special order items and custom shop products. Custom shop rifles are some of the rarest and most sought after.


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The first rifle is a Model 70 Super Grade Featherweight in .243 Win caliber. This rifle was made in the mid to late 50's. It has rust bluing on the barrel, inletted super grade swivels and an aluminum butt plate that is proper for this time period. The front sight is a full length brass bead Redfield and is hooded. The grip cap is blued steel which is also proper. What makes this rifle rare is the quality of the feather crotch wood in the stock. The featherweight rifle is lighter than the standard weight, is extremely rare in this configuration and demands a 400% premium! Another feature of the featherweight is that the trigger bow and fore plate were made of aluminum to make them lighter.


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The second rifle is a Super Grade Standard Weight with a 25" barrel. This rifle is a special order gun and was made in the custom shop. The rarity of this rifle is the caliber which is .338 Win mag. This caliber wasn't advertised in a super grade. The fact that this rifle has no swivels also attests to the fact that it was a special ordered gun. The cheek piece is a double shadow line which is a non-catalog item. The fore plate is marked super grade as in the first rifle. The checkering is of the wrap around type in the grip which is proper. This rifle has a special high gloss finish to the metal and stock. This stock and metal finish emulates that of a Model 21 shotgun. This serial number is of the late 50's. This rifle has a control number scribed on the receiver flat that also indicates a custom shop gun. It has a jeweled bolt and follower which is proper for a super grade rifle. The solid red butt plate is also proper for this caliber. This rifle was supposedly ordered by a hunter to hunt bear. He did not want a rifle with swivels so he had to have his hands at the ready position so he could fire in a timely manner.


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Now the third rifle... This is a standard rifle in .243 Win caliber with special order features. It was ordered with the previous rifle and has a lot of the same features. The stock finish and the metal finish is the same as the previous rifle. The rarity here is that the rifle has a standard front sight and not the super grade type Redfield. This rifle has super grade type swivels. The fore plate is the same as the standard rifle and is not marked super grade. Even though this rifle appears to be a super grade it is evident that it is a special order and not a super grade. The checkering is not of the type or style that was applied to the super. This rifle also has a solid red pad which is a special order feature as well as a scribe mark on the action flat which indicates a custom shop gun.


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These three rifles are a cross reference of some of the most sought after rifles you will encounter. It is of the utmost importance that if you are selling fine firearms that you have them inspected by a qualified firearms appraiser. The Blue Book is a general pricing guide but does not explain some of the custom features of these guns.

Remember, A serious buyer realizes the importance of seeking a professional when purchasing a gun of this rarity. It pays to hire or deal with a reputable auction gallery or firearms broker.

Good luck buying,
Charley