Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Super Grade, Catalog No. G7050C
Serial Number: 85555
Year of Manufacture: 1948
Caliber: .35 Remington
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine
Barrel Length: 24″ Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, textured, ramped base fixed 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 mounting an optic (none included). The left-rear of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled for a receiver sight (none included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece hand 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 only a few scattered minor marks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 5/8” 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 Excellent condition as restored.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Professionally Restored. The bolt is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion, but there is some stubborn copper fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its professionally restored metal finish. The balance is mostly in minor operational wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition as restored.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a safety mounted on the top-rear of the bolt. Pushed to the rear, the safety is ON, 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: There are Super Grade QD sling swivels installed.
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 1948 and is chambered in .35 Remington. Model 70s chambered in .35 Remington are very rare, with only 404 rifles made in total, making it the second scarcest caliber of the pre-64 Model 70. The Super Grade version of the Model 70 also 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 rifle is in Excellent condition as restored, and features 98% of its professionally restored 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 very rare and desirable Winchester, a pre-64 Model 70 Super Grade chambered in .35 Remington.
RIFLE