Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Standard Rifle, Catalog No. G7008C
Serial Number: 13583
Year of Manufacture: 1938 (3rd year of production)
Caliber: .220 Swift
Action Type: Bolt Action 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 fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top and left side of the receiver are drilled, tapped, and filled. Only the receiver has been drilled, tapped, and filled, not the top bridge.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece hand checkered walnut with a pistol grip, fluted straight comb, sling swivels at the front and rear, and a checkered metal buttplate. The checkering is sharp. The wood shows a couple light handling and storage marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 5/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows light wear. This stock rates in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original, the bolt is serial-matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98-99% of its metal finish. The metal shows a few light handling and storage marks. The trigger guard shows tiny scratches. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The manual safety 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: 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 is chambered in .220 Swift, and was made in 1938, just the third year of production for the Model 70. The .220 Swift is a semi-rimmed rifle cartridge developed by Winchester and introduced in 1935 for small game and varmint hunting. It was the first factory-loaded rifle cartridge with a muzzle velocity of over 4,000 fps, and is still the fastest commercial rifle round in the world. The Model 70 in .220 Swift is also fairly scarce, with approximately 20,000 such rifles made, comprising only about 3.44% of all pre-64 Model 70 production. This example is in Excellent condition, showing little use. The wood grain is particularly attractive for a pre-war Model 70 standard. This would be a wonderful addition to a Winchester collection.
RIFLE