Make: Winchester
Model: 70 “African” Super Grade, Catalog No. G7055CN
Serial Number: 380870
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Caliber: .458 Winchester Magnum
Action Type: Bolt Action with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine
Barrel Length: 25” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, serrated, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Winchester Express Micro sight with a wide "V"-notch adjustable for elevation in a base screwed to the rear of the barrel. The top of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled for mounting an optic (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 hand checkered walnut with an ebony nose cap, a capped pistol grip, a “Monte Carlo” high comb with cheekpiece, a through bolt, sling plates at the front and rear, and a Winchester orange rubber buttpad. The checkering is sharp. The wood shows a few light compressions, scuffs, and scratch marks. The nose cap shows light wear and there are a couple small scrapes in the wood. There is a tiny hole in the wood on the left side of the stock above the trigger guard. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 5/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. This stock rates in about Fine Plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue (Stainless bolt is jeweled, and so is the magazine follower)
Finish Originality: Original, the bolt is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some light fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 9.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. The metal shows a few light handling and storage marks. The metal shows a few tiny freckles of light erosion in a couple spots. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine to Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a safety mounted on the control-feed bolt. Pushed forwards, the safety is OFF. If pulled back all the way, it locks both the bolt and the trigger. If pulled back half-way, it blocks only the trigger. 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: None
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 “African” Super Grade Rifle is a rare piece, being made in 1956, the first year the "African" Super Grade was cataloged. A subset of the Super Grade, it featured a 25" barrel chambered for .458 Winchester Magnum and equipped with the Winchester Express Micro rear sight, a design found only on the “African” guns. Only 1,226 such rifles were made before the model was discontinued in 1963, comprising a bit less than a quarter of 1% of all pre-64 Model 70 production, and making it the third scarcest chambering of the Pre-64 Model 70. 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 to Excellent condition, retaining 98% of its original blued finish, strong mechanics, and a great bore. 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 beautiful rifle in a powerful hunting cartridge; as much as it would be great on an African safari, with its high condition, rare caliber, and first year (for the “African” model) manufacturing date, this scarce Super Grade would likely be a better trophy for an advanced Winchester collection.
RIFLE