Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Super Grade Featherweight, Catalog No. G7080CN
Serial Number: 389324
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Caliber: .308 Winchester
Action Type: Bolt Action with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine
Barrel Length: 22” 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 an adjustable "U"-notch flip up sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top and left side of the receiver are drilled, tapped, and filled.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece hand checkered walnut with an ebony nose cap, capped pistol grip, “Monte Carlo” high comb with cheekpiece, sling plates at the front and rear, and a checkered black alloy buttplate. The checkering is sharp. The wood shows a couple minor scuffs and light scratches. There are a few small scrapes on the right 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 buttplate. The buttplate shows some scratches. This stock rates in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue with Black Alloy Floorplate, Trigger Guard Assembly, & Buttplate
Finish Originality: Original, the bolt is serial-matching. The bolt and magazine follower are jeweled.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. The metal shows a couple light handling and storage marks. The floorplate shows a couple minor scuffs and scratches. The sling plates show some light oxidation. The screw heads are sharp, a few show light tool marks. 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 Vintage Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 Super Grade Featherweight Rifle was made in 1956 and is chambered in .308 Winchester. Winchester announced the “Featherweight” version of the venerable Model 70 along with the new .308 Winchester cartridge in August 1952. The Model 70 “Featherweight” was initially advertised at 6.5 pounds, while the traditional Model 70 usually weighed 7.75 to 8.0 pounds. The .308 is a great hunting cartridge, being ideal for deer, elk, and black bear. 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. The Featherweight Super Grade is the rarest of all pre-64 Model 70 substyles, accounting for only .16% of total production, followed by the “African” and then the “National Match”. Only 930 Featherweight Super Grades were ever made, and out of four possible calibers, those chambered in .308 Winchester are the scarcest, with only 101 made, compared to .270 WCF (248 made), .243 Winchester (260 made) and .30-06 (321 made). This rifle is in Excellent condition, and features 99% of its original, lustrous blued finish, a gorgeous one-piece hand checkered walnut stock with an ebony nose cap and “Monte Carlo” high comb, a jeweled bolt and magazine follower, strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling. With its incredible condition and rarity, this stunning Winchester Model 70 Super Grade Featherweight would be a crown jewel for any collection.
RIFLE