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Winchester Model 70 what year?

martzkj@msn.commartzkj@msn.com Member Posts: 582 ✭✭✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
Hi, I have this model 70, standard grade in 220 swift. I think it is from the early to mid 40's. I was wanting to know what year it exactly is. I would like to know if it was pre-war or not. Thanks for any help. Glenn Martz
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Comments

  • martzkj@msn.commartzkj@msn.com Member Posts: 582 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry, I guess you need the serial number. #55860
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  • AntiqueDrAntiqueDr Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    1942.

    I'd be a buyer if you ever are looking to sell.


    We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Master Dealer for Kimber, Wilson Combat and Dan Wesson.Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com
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  • martzkj@msn.commartzkj@msn.com Member Posts: 582 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks, Ok since this would have been made right at the beginning of the war, would this be considered prewar or what. I see pre-war bring more of a premuim. Or would the value fall in the post-war pre64's, or do war time gun have their own value. Thanks Dr. but the gun is not for sale sorry.
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  • grayghostgrayghost Member Posts: 60 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    My book tells me this model 70 was made in 1945. It could have been 1942?

    Grayghost
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  • 32wsl32wsl Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    According to "The Rifleman's Rifle", By Robert Rule, it was made in 1946. So it was a post-war rifle.
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  • snickerssnickers Member Posts: 359 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Dr. is correct the gun is a 1942 and is a Pre War. If all correct it will bring a little more than a post war in the same condition.

    MONEY TALKS mine says good-bye
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  • BT99BT99 Member Posts: 1,043 ✭
    edited November -1
    Take the action out of the wood. Look on the bottom side of the
    barrel just in front of the receiver. Should be two numbers,
    indicating year barrel was made. Such as 42 would be 1942.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Blue book also puts it at 1945.
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  • snickerssnickers Member Posts: 359 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry I may have spoken to soon. I went from memory this morning but looked it up tonight and it is a 1945 gun.

    MONEY TALKS mine says good-bye
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  • martzkj@msn.commartzkj@msn.com Member Posts: 582 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK, I pulled the stock off as suggested. The barrel was stamped 22s42, just in front of that it was stamped st in the opposite direction. Does anybody know for sure what this means. If this is a 42 production, do they consider that prewar? Thanks for all the help. Glenn Martz
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  • AntiqueDrAntiqueDr Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, I would imagine the 'st' stands for stainless. Stainless steel barrels were standard on the Swift until serial numbers just over 550,000 give or take.

    But then again, I'm sure somebody with a Blue Book will correct me...

    We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Master Dealer for Kimber, Wilson Combat and Dan Wesson.Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com
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  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Glenn,
    Here is some information from George Madis's Winchester book,
    Serial # range for the year 1942 is, 50754 to 58206, total for that year was 7452 guns.
    Stainless steel barrels were standard for the 220 Swift until serial # 581,000 when Winchester Proof Steel became standard.
    There was a total of 2931 in 220 Swift sold from 1936 to 1943.
    Gino


    "If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"



    Edited by - bullelk on 05/10/2002 22:39:03

    Edited by - bullelk on 05/10/2002 22:43:18
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  • 32wsl32wsl Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    While the barrel was made in '42, the rifle wasn't assembled until sometime between 8 March to 3 April '46, this, according to Mr Rule who has done some very extensive resurch(315 pages worth) on the m70. This production delay was due to Pearl Harbor and the 13 Jan '42 directive from the Winchester front office to put Sporting Arms on hold while troop armaments were being brought on line. Yes, the barrel folks used "ST"(mostly) and sometimes "SS" for stainless, but generally "220s" for the Swift. As to the 220 production, Mr Rule counts noses 1 by 1: While 3005 were shipped from '36-'43 (a bit different than the number that were sold, which is impossible to really nail down), he says that only 81 went out the door during the next 3 years, again, reflective of the wartime environment. Those 81 fellas ending up with those must have been very important or very lucky guys! It was only in and after 1947 that m70 sales really went gangbusters.
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