Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Super Grade, G7058C
Serial Number: 72873
Year of Manufacture: 1947
Caliber: .220 Swift
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine
Barrel Length: 26″ Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, textured, ramped base forged to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to a boss at the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled for an optic mount (none present). The left-rear of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled for a receiver sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece checkered walnut with an ebony nose cap, a capped pistol grip, a straight comb with cheekpiece, Super-Grade style sling plates inlaid at the front and rear, and a checkered steel buttplate. The stock has a few scattered minor marks. There is some finish loss on the nosecap. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/2” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has strong finish with well defined checkering. Overall, the stock is in Fine Plus condition as restored.
Type of Finish: Matte Blue
Finish Originality: Professionally restored, the bolt is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its professionally restored metal finish. The action shows light operational wear. There are a few scattered minor marks and there are tool marks on the rear sight boss. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine Plus condition as restored.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The installed Super Grade QD sling swivels are included.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 70, known as the “Rifleman’s Rifle”, is one of the most iconic American sporting rifles ever made. It was introduced in 1936 as Winchester’s new and significantly improved bolt-action rifle chambered in big calibers, firing high velocity cartridges capable of taking big game, and for use in so-called big-bore target matches. The Model 70 has been prized by hunters and shooters alike for nearly 90 years, and is one of the benchmarks by which all bolt action rifles are measured. Pre-64 examples of the Winchester Model 70 are held in particularly high esteem.
This Vintage Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 Super Grade Rifle was made in 1947 and is chambered in .220 Swift. The .220 Swift cartridge is a classic round for varmint hunting, able to push projectiles well past 4,000 fps, and some hunters have found it to be quite effective on smaller deer. The Model 70 in .220 Swift is also fairly scarce, with approximately 20,000 pre-64 examples made (very few in Super Grade), comprising only about 3.44% of all pre-64 Model 70 production. The Super Grade version of the Model 70 has a more attractive grain to the wood, and features an ebony nose cap, a capped pistol grip, a cheekpiece, and better checkering than would be found on the Standard Rifles. This example is in Fine Plus condition as restored. It features 97% of its professionally restored matte blued finish, a beautifully restored one-piece hand checkered walnut stock with an ebony nose cap, strong mechanics, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling. Pre-64 Model 70s garner significant collector interest, and the Super Grades even more. The Super Grades account for only 2.73% of total pre-64 Model 70 production. This is a rare and desirable Winchester, a pre-64 Model 70 Super Grade chambered in .220 Swift.
RIFLE