jones123

I just inherited a 1964 Winchester model 70 .270 win. It looks in great shape and I am excited.

The guy I got it from believes that 1964 was the last year they were made in the US. ????? Anybody know about this or know where to find info on this? I thoughtall Win'swere still US made today.

bigbulls

They are still made in the states. 1964 is the year that they changed production and design of their firearms in order to keep up with the changing times. They did away with things like hand cut checkering, hand rubbed oil finishes, expensive and time cousuming machining methods, hand fitted parts, etc... etc... This didn't happen over night but over the next couple of years the old way of doing things faded away to the more stream lined and more cost effective way of producing firearms.

Your gun may or may not be of the "pre 64" design and methods. The biggest thing to look for is the large claw extractor that sits on the side of the bolt body.

jones123

Thanks fer the answer. I'll check my bolt. Either way, i'm purty thrilled.

jones123

So, bigbulls, I'm assuming you know a thing or two about this. Can you tell anything from this picture? I believe that is the claw extractor you are talking about.

I was on a website that said all serials lower than 700,000 are pre-64. Does that sound right to you?

Thanks for the help!

JagMagMan

Yes that is the "claw!"

eldeguello

The Winchester Model 70 has never been made anywhere EXCEPT in the USA!!

bigbulls

Yes it is a pre-1964 Winchester model 70.

If I am reading that serial number correctly 327XXX that gun was made in 1955.

Never, ever, ever sell that gun. Unless it's to me.

jones123

You read my mind;that was my next question. It is 327182. 1955, huh? Older than I thought. That would dovetail with the info I got about Win's serial 700000 being the last pre-'64. I have been having difficulty finding free valuationand serial number onfo on the www.

Now you're making me scared to hunt with it. However, that was my father in law's stipulation - we only get it if his grandsons (my sons) get meat with it.

Thanks Again, and we don't plan on selling it.

bigbulls

Don't be scared to hunt with it at all. That's what it was made for and that's what it has been doing for a long time before now.

You got one heck of a hunting rifle there that you can pass down for many more years to come.

Only thing worse than selling it would be to let it just sit there.

Rebel Hog

Or someonelook in your closet and swipe it!