In House Shipping:
Make: Winchester
Model: 70 Standard Rifle, Catalog No. G7001C
Serial Number: 175938
Year of Manufacture: 1951
Caliber: .22 Hornet
Action Type: Bolt Action with Internal 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 “-22 HORNET-”. 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 “175938”. The top rear of the bolt is marked “FIRE”. The bolt is marked with a matching serial number.
Barrel Length: 24”, Round
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into a textured, ramped base (slotted for a hood) fixed to the front of the barrel. The hood is not present. 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 of the chamber ring, top of the receiver bridge, and left side of the receiver are drilled, tapped and filled.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stock is one-piece checkered walnut with a pistol grip, fluted “Monte Carlo” comb, sling rings at the front and rear, and a checkered composition buttplate. The stock has only a couple minor compressions. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 5/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are a few compressions and nicks on the buttplate, which shows crisp checkering. Overall, the stock is in about Excellent Condition.
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 97% of its metal finish. There are two spots on the left side of the barrel near the back of the front sight base and two spots directly behind the rear sight that are isolated and uniform in finish loss and light erosion. There are a few other scattered minor marks. The action shows operational wear. 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. We did not fire 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-64 Winchester Model 70 Standard Rifle was made in 1951 and is in Excellent Condition. It features a 24” barrel, 97% of its lustrous, original blued finish, an elegant one-piece checkered walnut stock with a pistol grip, fluted “Monte Carlo” comb, and checkered composition buttplate, clear markings, strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. There are two spots on the left side of the barrel near the back of the front sight base and two spots directly behind the rear sight that are isolated and uniform in finish loss and light erosion. This beauty is chambered in .22 Hornet, an effective short-range fox or vermin cartridge that is relatively inexpensive and quiet. It was once cited to be the most accurate centerfire cartridge the technicians at Winchester had ever seen. For this design, the chambering is also fairly scarce, comprising about 3.5% of all pre-64 Model 70 production.