In House Shipping:
Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Standard Rifle, Catalog No. G7009C
Serial Number: 101901
Year of Manufacture: 1949
Caliber: .300 H&H Magnum
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Boxed Magazine and Hinged Floorplate
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / —WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL—”, “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-”, “MODEL 70-”, and “300 MAGNUM”. The left rear of the barrel and left front of the receiver are marked with Winchester ovalled “WP” proofs. The left side of the receiver is marked “WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK-”. The right front of the receiver is marked with the serial number “101901”.
Barrel Length: 26”, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a textured, ramped base forged to the front of the barrel. The base is slotted for a hood which is installed. The rear sight is a flip up dual leaf “U”-notch sight dovetailed to the barrel. The top of the receiver is mounted with a Redfield one-piece scope base with two scope rings.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece checkered walnut with a flat-bottom semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, sling rings at the front and rear, and a checkered steel buttplate. The stock has been lacquered, and the left side of the stock has a couple tiny spots where the lacquer has pooled. The left side of the stock has a notable compression. There are a few minor compression marks. There are no chips or cracks. There is some minor scattered intermittent spots of finish loss, though they’re few and far between. The LOP measures 13 5/8” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The buttplate has some minor wear with scuffs and scratches but the checkering is crisp. Overall, the stock rates in Excellent Condition as Refinished.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is some scattered very minor finish wear with slightly more notable wear on the bottom metal. The action shows operational wear, and there is handling wear on the bolt knob. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Excellent Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a safety mounted on the rear of the bolt. Pushed to the front, the safety is OFF. Rotated 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 Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Standard Rifle was made in 1949 and is in Excellent Condition. It features a 26” barrel, 98% of its lustrous, original blued finish, an elegantly refinished (lacquered, with minor pooling in a few spots) one-piece checkered walnut stock with a flat-bottom semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, and checkered steel buttplate, clear markings, solid mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. The top of the receiver is mounted with a Redfield one-piece scope base with two scope rings. This beauty is chambered in .300 Holland & Holland Magnum, a fine African plains game cartridge, and suitable for all but the most dangerous big game and pachyderms. We bet even Hemingway would’ve been proud to have this Model 70 on his African safari, or in his gun rack at home.