Until until WWII, the model 70 had no factory holes in the receiver bridge. Scopes were not in general use for hunting, target scopes did not require a mount in this aft position, and there was no practical need for the holes on the bridge of the receiver. WWII changed all of this. With the war, optical sights took a huge step forward - both in terms of technology, and also in terms of public acceptance. In the span of a few years the average gun owner became interested in having a scope on his hunting rifle. The rising popularity of scopes spurred Winchester to add two holes to the bridge of the model 70 receiver. In early 1947 the holes began to...
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...
