Winchester 70 in 30-06, needs work.

[TRAP55]

All pre-64 Model 70's were D&T at the factory, but only the receiver ring. That was for a rear scope block, and the front block was mounted on the barrel.
The rear bridge D&T started post war, but there are "transitional" rifles too. If you are correct on the DOM, the rear bridge will have one hole for a Redfield mount, and two holes for a Weaver mount.

[200Apples]

Good grief, that's a beautiful rifle as is. Just needs a little rubbin' down.

Leave 'er be (after cleaning and oiling the barrel, action and stock) and shoot it.

What splithoof, THBailey and Trap have said is all on the money.

[pennstater]

Thanks TRAP55 for the D/T clarification.

MLC

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have to disagree with those that talk about leaving it alone, and being worth more the way it is.

1st. That gun is NOT Rare ! It is the most common pre 64 M70 there is.

2nd the reason why you got it for $300 is because it looks bad. a decent looking pre 64 M70 is more like a $1200 gun. The barrel has had the bluing sanded off, Probably a little rust along with it, and the rest is hand wear from being carried with sweaty hands.

This gun is not a collectors piece. I would not hesitate sending the metal out for Rebluing with someone who knows how to remove the minor blemishes without ruining the Roll Stamping on the barrel I'd refinish the stock myself and re-cut the checkering. But that's me.

I also would NOT put a scope on that gun. If you are actually wanting to keep the gun period correct, it needs a Redfield or Lyman Mod 48 or 57 Receiver Sight which it might already be drilled and tapped for. Look on the left side of the Rear Receiver Ring for two holes. Look on Ebay for a nice sight. (not a new one!) Here's one,,,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EARLY-LYMAN-48-REAR-RECEIVER-SIGHT-FOR-M70-54-WINCHESTER-RIFLES/254544633011?hash=item3b440adcb3:g:SBoAAOSw6qheco3J

If the gun was in your family and you knew the history of it, then that would be another matter, but you don't, so it is just a gun that was well used. So bring it back to what it used to look like and enjoy shooting it for the rest of your life,,, with a Peep Sight on it !!! Which will make you a better Rifleman,,, worthy of owning "the Rifleman's Rifle!"

Randy

[saudadeii]

First, I have a 1961 M70 FW in .30-06. It was purchased by my father and was his primary deer gun. It replaced his 1959 M94 carbine. I own both now.

Clearly I have an emotional attachment far beyond any "collector" value. Mine show wear from stomping through pastures/woods in upstate NY, bouncing around in the back of our station wagon, and other stories etched in my memory. They will forever remain in their current state (at least on my watch).

On yours, I'd go with whatever you want to do to restore/refurbish it. So I agree with Buchanan. Especially about going out and shooting it.

[Preston-CLB]

If the original finish was removed for whatever reason, I believe I would restore the rifle to its original glory. yeah, it would cost a dime, or three, but if it's not a sentimental thing in its current condition, go for it.

A gun you like, either for its looks or functionality, is a gun you'll shoot, and enjoy.
-P

[hawkeye]

I have to disagree with those that talk about leaving it alone, and being worth more the way it is.

1st. That gun is NOT Rare ! It is the most common pre 64 M70 there is.

2nd the reason why you got it for $300 is because it looks bad. a decent looking pre 64 M70 is more like a $1200 gun. The barrel has had the bluing sanded off, Probably a little rust along with it, and the rest is hand wear from being carried with sweaty hands.

This gun is not a collectors piece. I would not hesitate sending the metal out for Rebluing with someone who knows how to remove the minor blemishes without ruining the Roll Stamping on the barrel I'd refinish the stock myself and re-cut the checkering. But that's me.

I also would NOT put a scope on that gun. If you are actually wanting to keep the gun period correct, it needs a Redfield or Lyman Mod 48 or 57 Receiver Sight which it might already be drilled and tapped for. Look on the left side of the Rear Receiver Ring for two holes. Look on Ebay for a nice sight. (not a new one!) Here's one,,,


Randy

Hey Randy,

Got a Redfield 6x scope already waiting to be put on it!

I think your reply is the one I'm looking for. Luckily there isn't rust damage at, or pitting for that matter. I feel like if I put the elbow grease into it will have more sentimental value that I can hand off to the grandkids one day. I don't care about affecting resell value because I'm not interested in selling. The rifling is in great shape too so im hoping to get a shooter out of this. Thanks!

[3006]

Pretty sure they are stainless steel if remember right mine says so on the barrel even though its blued it's a 243 varmint master mint except my dad engraved his driver's license number on the floor plate 50 years ago the sheriff was going around at the time loaning out the engraving tool.

[Ki6vsm]

Wow, pre-64 AND made in 1949? What are the odds.

Kidding. Should be an interesting project. My dad gave me his old Model 54, which was the predecessor to the 70. Also in 30-'06. Purchased by my Grandfather in the early 1930s. Beautiful shape but the trigger and sear are a mess and need work before it's shootable again.

Having said that, I wish it was a Model 70. Some notable improvements over the M54 were made when they developed the M70.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Hawkeye: The reason for the Lyman Receiver Sight is to promote actual rifle shooting as it was in the year I was born.1949 Optics on Hunting rifles didn't really become popular until the late 1960's as they were generally pretty unreliable things and you always had your iron sights as back ups if the scope cacked.

I had a chance to buy a Griffin & Howe Sporterized Springfield at a gun show in Denver a couple of years ago. This was the high point in sporting rifles until Winchester came out with the M70. The gun had a 2.5X Alaskan Scope mounted on it on a QD G&H side mount and also had the Lyman 48 Receiver Sight base and he had the bridge as well with the gun.

With the Lyman Sight after it is sighted in exactly, You can remove the bridge by a push button, and then if needed you can slip it back on and it returns perfectly to the previous zero. So no matter what happened to the gun you were still in the game. The Scope Mount also repeated perfectly so that would retain it's zero on and off the gun. Those mounts alone are worth $1,000 any day of the week.

I have several .30-06 rifles. One is a Springfield 03A3 Sporter I built (Not done yet trying to emulate the NRA Sporter) It has a Lyman Sight as it will never be used any other way. I also have a Ruger Guide Gun with good Open Iron Sights and a 1-5 X Leupold on it. So I can go either way.

We are talking the Classic American Bolt Action Rifle and what they looked like back in the day when most everyone shot guns with iron sights. These guns were the evolution of the Winchester Lever Action Rifle in the sporting world. After the war all the GI's came home very familiar with peep sights (Garand and Carbine) So they were most popular.

Your gun can have both sighting systems.

Here's some pics of guns like yours, First two pics are Springfields the next two are M70's

Randy

[Jess B. Guy]

If the bore is good and action locks up properly, I would clean it gently and use it as is.

While everyone is entitled to their own opinion I agree to clean it gently. 71 year old rifle in good condition. No re-blue.

[TRAP55]

Pretty sure they are stainless steel if remember right mine says so on the barrel even though its blued it's a 243 varmint master mint except my dad engraved his driver's license number on the floor plate 50 years ago the sheriff was going around at the time loaning out the engraving tool.

There are some that have Stainless Steel barrels, Winchester used stainless in a number of models, including shotguns. The barrels are coated with a finish called "Japanese Black", because stainless doesn't blue. It wasn't real durable, and usually seen with most of it rubbed off.

[TRAP55]

Wow, pre-64 AND made in 1949? What are the odds.

Kidding. Should be an interesting project. My dad gave me his old Model 54, which was the predecessor to the 70. Also in 30-'06. Purchased by my Grandfather in the early 1930s. Beautiful shape but the trigger and sear are a mess and need work before it's shootable again.

Having said that, I wish it was a Model 70. Some notable improvements over the M54 were made when they developed the M70.

Original 54 parts are about non-existent. The good news, a majority of Mod 70 parts work in the 54.

[strakill]

Clean that thing up and leave it as is. Go ahead and shoot it though.

That is a beautiful piece, please leave it as worn as it is. Broken parts can be replaced without harming it's history to much just to keep it in working order.

[TRAP55]

I'm with Randy, collector value is pretty much gone, heirloom so it's not getting sold anyhow. Blue it, finish the stock, freshen the checkering, peep sight, or my preference, a vintage period correct Bausch & Lomb/Kuharsky Brothers mount and rings.