Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Standard Rifle, Catalog No. G7005C
Serial Number: 25772
Year of Manufacture: 1940
Caliber: 7mm(7x57mm Mauser)
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Magazine
Barrel Length: 24” Round
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into a hooded, textured, ramped base fixed to 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 chamber ring is drilled, tapped, and filled; the bridge is not drilled. The left-rear of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled for a receiver sight (none present).
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stock is one-piece hand checkered walnut with a pistol grip, straight comb, sling swivels at the front and rear, and a checkered steel buttplate. The stock has a few scattered minor marks. There is a very thin crack in the bottom of the wrist to the left of the trigger guard. 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 and well defined checkering. Overall, the stock is in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original, the bolt is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some faint erosion and 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 finish. The action shows minor operational wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, the rifle is in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and 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 Pre-War Winchester Model 70 Standard Rifle was made in 1940 and is chambered in 7mm Mauser. The 7mm Mauser is a fine deer cartridge, and it remains in widespread international use as a sporting round. For this design, the 7mm Mauser caliber is also the fourth scarcest, with only 1,470 such rifles made, comprising only a quarter of 1% of all pre-64 Model 70 production. This example is in Excellent condition, and features 98% of its crisp, original blued finish, a gorgeous one-piece hand checkered walnut stock (there is a very thin crack in the bottom of the wrist to the left of the trigger guard), strong mechanics, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling. This is a very rare and desirable Winchester, a Pre-war Model 70 Standard chambered in 7mm Mauser.
RIFLE