Hello to all of our fellow pre-64 Model 70 enthusiasts. I hope this Campfire post finds you healthy and your family not directly impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. We are all safe and healthy here at pre64win.com, but are deeply concerned by the situation around us. I am praying that lives will be spared, that our country can get back to work soon, and that our economy will recover quickly. I am writing from my home in Washington State where we have seen greater impact from the virus than many places in the US. The first known case of Coronavirus in the US occurred in a town just 10 miles from here and the pre64win.com shop is located just 6 miles...
Jack O'Connor is the central figure in the history of the Winchester model 70 - no individual contributed more to the legend and legacy of the rifle. O’Connor’s was enormously influential in making the pre-64 model 70 desired, and also in making the post-1963 model 70 despised. As such, it is impossible to separate the legacy of the model 70 from that of Jack O’Connor. This article takes a look at O'Connor's history and his relationship with the Winchester model 70.
Guest authored by pre64win.com customer P. Dawson This article was written by a pre64win.com customer who kindly related their experience re-barreling a cherished family heirloom rifle. The article is presented here without editing or revision. We have added a few comments at the end of the article to help any who may attempt to use this article as a DIY guide for replacing a barrel. My first barrel replacement on a pre-’64 Winchester model 70. Disclaimer: Don’t believe anything you read here and don’t try any of this ever. You have been warned. Blaine Rorabaugh was a Navy Sea Bee stationed in the South Pacific during WWII. He was also my maternal grandfather and perhaps the most colorful person in...
Knowing the details of when your rifle was manufactured and what production generation your rifle is from is essential knowledge for every model 70 owner. Whether you are buying parts, or just trying to understand how your rifle fits into the model 70 family of rifles, it begins with knowing when it was made. This Campfire article explains how to find your rifle's place in model 70 production history. A factory original and all correct Type I-1 rifle from 1936 Pre-64 model 70s are commonly classified into one of three production groupings, framed around WWII. These groups are "pre-war" and "post-war", with a small number of rifles between these two groups referred to as "transition" rifles. In Winchester parlance, these three groupings of rifles are...
On May 29, 1942, eager to do their part in the war effort, Winchester shipped 373 model 70 standard .30-06 rifles to the US Marine Corps. Winchester requested the Marines evaluate the rifles generally for suitability of use in combat, and specifically for use as sniper rifles. Two months later the Marine Corps replied to Winchester in a memo which stated: Subject: Rifles, Winchester, Model 70, .30 Government 06. The subject rifles are not considered suitable for general service use for the following reasons: Not sufficiently sturdy Parts are not interchangeable with M1903 and M1 parts Replacement parts will be difficult to procure Not fitted with sling swivels. These rifles are not considered suitable for use as sniper rifles. The...
