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M70 SA FWT
D. Bryan
Member Posts: 116 ✭✭✭
I have a M70 SA Featherweight .308 S/N G 170,XXX. This has the Classic extractor (CRF) and a fancy fiddleback gloss finish stock.
According to the factory, it was shipped to the distributor in 1984.
Since the Classic was not introduced until 1990 and the stock is the same as those shown in the Winchester catalog as the North American Big Game Series, I presume this is a pre-production rifle that was sent to a very large distributor. I was told by the factory which distributor it went to. The headspace is so tight it is hard to close on a factory round and it marks the shoulder. Action is bright blue. This is the most attractive M70 I have seen. I have checked with the Winchester Custom Shop and it is not on their records. The factory has no information other the shipping date and the shipping location.
Does anyone here have an idea of the current value in 100% condition?
Guys; I really need help on this, I can't even find out just what it is.
Active old guy who lives with two dobermans.
According to the factory, it was shipped to the distributor in 1984.
Since the Classic was not introduced until 1990 and the stock is the same as those shown in the Winchester catalog as the North American Big Game Series, I presume this is a pre-production rifle that was sent to a very large distributor. I was told by the factory which distributor it went to. The headspace is so tight it is hard to close on a factory round and it marks the shoulder. Action is bright blue. This is the most attractive M70 I have seen. I have checked with the Winchester Custom Shop and it is not on their records. The factory has no information other the shipping date and the shipping location.
Does anyone here have an idea of the current value in 100% condition?
Guys; I really need help on this, I can't even find out just what it is.
Active old guy who lives with two dobermans.
Comments
What I have learned; After consulting with several professional traders, I was told it was a Custom Classic. However, I have seen the Custom Classic and it uses the same wood as the Super Grade. The Custom Shop Catalogue shows several examples, all using receivers in the G 100,000 series. All of these use the CRF extractor and the same wood as the Super Grade. In 50+ years of experience with firearms, this is the only Winchester I have seen with a Factory Gloss Finish Stock. I have seen many Custom Shop and Presentation Models and all have used an Oil Finish. As per my first post, the only model that I have seen referring to a gloss finish is the American Big Game Series, which uses a stock identical to this rifle.
This rifle is marked Classic Featherweight on the RIGHT side of the barrel.
Active old guy who lives with two dobermans.
MONEY TALKS mine says good-bye
Does anyone have more information about these rifles.
Active old guy who lives with two dobermans.
Active old guy who lives with two dobermans.
I think the mere fact that no one on this forum appears to have knowledge of these rifles is a good indication of their rarity.
Since Winchester serial numbers their receivers in their order of production, not assembly, all of these receivers were produced pre 1970. This would indicate they were made on a special production line and stored for later use. Apparently the Custom Shop rifles are made from this stock.
Due to the time that has passed, most if not all of the people involved will have retired. Since most of the Winchester collectors are only interested in the pre-64, they have ignored this small number of rifles that are identical, in most ways, to the pre-64. I would guess these actions were produced on the original assembly line.
Active old guy who lives with two dobermans.