Winchester 70-264
Hi everyone.
So I have a Winchester 70-264 rifle that I inherited through my dad's estate. Now, anything he shot, I am never getting rid of. However, the story on this rifle is that it actually belonged to a buddy of his, who passed it along when he died - long after my dad was finished with his shooting. So, aside from whatever sentimental value the rifle had through his friendship with this fella, it means very little to me, and I am trying to stay focused on a few different calibers. I have very little interest in .264, so selling it seems to be the way to go.
I brought the rifle to my local gun shop today and the owner was very interested. Offered me nearly $900 on the spot for it. Well, I'm a business owner too, so I am guessing that when he says it's a very nice gun and offers me that much for it... it's probably worth more.
I'm not being greedy. I just don't want to sell this thing and feel like a dumbass later because I let it go for a song.
What I do l know - the rifle is all original, with the exception of the butt plate. It has been replaced with something aftermarket which was sanded down to match.
The wood stock is all original.
I was told the barrel was in great shape.
The only other thing that seemed to be wrong, the owner said the bolt was a little dirty, which he attributed to it's age and not having been fired in nearly 50 years. Also, he said there was a spot on the bolt that had apparently gotten a touch of rust on it, but had been cleaned up and maintained nicely.
As near I can tell, the serial appears to be 539641. According to my guy that makes it pre-64 (1960), which apparently makes it even more sought after.
It is apparently not the "lightweight" version. He might have said "featherweight," I'm not sure. Either way, that's NOT what it is.
I would love input on this rifle.
So I have a Winchester 70-264 rifle that I inherited through my dad's estate. Now, anything he shot, I am never getting rid of. However, the story on this rifle is that it actually belonged to a buddy of his, who passed it along when he died - long after my dad was finished with his shooting. So, aside from whatever sentimental value the rifle had through his friendship with this fella, it means very little to me, and I am trying to stay focused on a few different calibers. I have very little interest in .264, so selling it seems to be the way to go.
I brought the rifle to my local gun shop today and the owner was very interested. Offered me nearly $900 on the spot for it. Well, I'm a business owner too, so I am guessing that when he says it's a very nice gun and offers me that much for it... it's probably worth more.
I'm not being greedy. I just don't want to sell this thing and feel like a dumbass later because I let it go for a song.
What I do l know - the rifle is all original, with the exception of the butt plate. It has been replaced with something aftermarket which was sanded down to match.
The wood stock is all original.
I was told the barrel was in great shape.
The only other thing that seemed to be wrong, the owner said the bolt was a little dirty, which he attributed to it's age and not having been fired in nearly 50 years. Also, he said there was a spot on the bolt that had apparently gotten a touch of rust on it, but had been cleaned up and maintained nicely.
As near I can tell, the serial appears to be 539641. According to my guy that makes it pre-64 (1960), which apparently makes it even more sought after.
It is apparently not the "lightweight" version. He might have said "featherweight," I'm not sure. Either way, that's NOT what it is.
I would love input on this rifle.
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$900 was pretty generous for a gun shop. Its probably worth a couple hundred more but with the stock cut that is going to hurt it some. Mint that gun would do around $1800. It is a pre 64 but it is the least desirable of the pre 64 guns being that it was built in the 60's. Winchester I believe used pressed checkering on your gun (as apposed to hand cut). The caliber is what is keeping the price up. If it means nothing to you and you dont want to sell it to your gun shop, list it here and it'll probably fetch around $1200. 0 -
jeffdubya,
Hello, and welcome to the forums here on Gunbroker.
That model 70 you have could indeed be something special...especially if the stock has not been cut to add the pad. We really need to see some well lit...natural outdoor light is best...pictures of this rifle. Some up close detail, including markings and stampings, and a cloose up of the butt area. There are instructions in a post that says "sticky", near the top of the Experts forum, that describes how to post pictures. You need a photo hosting URL to do so, and there are three or so listed.
With those pictures, we can give you a good evaluation. I am sure it will be well above $900.00, if the rifle is above average condition.
Best
EDIT 1:
It would be nice to see a picture of the Butt Plate itself...actually essential. This might be the factory one, or a factory one.0 -
Apparently the stock has NOT been cut. The replacement pad has been sanded to match the stock. I will look up that sticky. Its getting a little late in the day here but I will see if I can get some photos up ASAFP. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by jeffdubya
Apparently the stock has NOT been cut. The replacement pad has been sanded to match the stock. I will look up that sticky. Its getting a little late in the day here but I will see if I can get some photos up ASAFP.
Sorry, I thought it was cut. Here is one up for auction now with a pad and hand cut checkering.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=1379607690 -
Mine is in equivalent shape, possibly a bit nicer.
and I'm no expert, but if that is what "hand cut checkering" looks like, then that is what I seem to have.
Photos are still uploading, posted 25 images.
http://gallery.me.com/jwsw#100189&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=2
I combined some posts to save room for responses to the photos - NN0 -
Send it my way and never heard of a pre-64 with pressed checkering. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by elkcrazyfred
Send it my way and never heard of a pre-64 with pressed checkering.
I think "pressed" is the wrong word, its "machine cut". Good news is your gun is in very nice shape & a .264, bad news is the checkering is not hand cut. Still a very nice gun. does the bolt serial no. match the gun? here is a mint one that is also machine checkered. Your plastic butt might be factory too, along with the demise of hand cut checkering Winchester also started putting plastic Butts on them (instead of the inleted metal). Its the 3rd generation of the pre 64 gun, but still a pre-64, and a .264!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=1293069750 -
Pre 64 264s with a good barrel are hard to find, they are famous for short barrel life. It would pay to find a bore scope and have a competent gunsmith check it out. If it does truely have a good barrel, and you state it has indeed been checked, $1,200 shouldn't be out of line. Original butt plates arn't hard to find, and would be worth the investment, the money is in originality.
W.D.0 -
quote:does the bolt serial no. match the gun? here is a mint one that is also machine checkered. Your plastic butt might be factory too, along with the demise of hand cut checkering Winchester also started putting plastic Butts on them (instead of the inleted metal). Its the 3rd generation of the pre 64 gun, but still a pre-64, and a .264!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=129306975
Wow, this one is in as good of shape as the rifle you linked to.
Can you tell me how to remove the bolt so I can find that serial?
Glad my instincts kicked in on this one, if I had let it go for $900 I would have gotten it in the shorts!0 -
quote:Originally posted by jeffdubya
quote:does the bolt serial no. match the gun? here is a mint one that is also machine checkered. Your plastic butt might be factory too, along with the demise of hand cut checkering Winchester also started putting plastic Butts on them (instead of the inleted metal). Its the 3rd generation of the pre 64 gun, but still a pre-64, and a .264!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=129306975
Wow, this one is in as good of shape as the rifle you linked to.
Can you tell me how to remove the bolt so I can find that serial?
Glad my instincts kicked in on this one, if I had let it go for $900 I would have gotten it in the shorts!
Slide the bolt back and push the little triangle at the rear left of the reciever. bolt serial no. will be crudely etched on the bolt. You can compare your checkering to hand cut ones by looking at the area that is checkered. A machine cut job covers a smaller area and the checkering is only on the flat part of the wood (the machine could not curve around the contours of the wood), therefor winchester had to "flatten" the forearm more to accomodate the machine. This was all in order to cut costs, which in turn cut quality and finally cut there throat. Also, on photo 36 of the butt it appears that I see some "splintering" around the plastic butt cap. This may be due to someone cutting the stock. If the case, This will detract from your final sell price.
Oh, by the way 2 more observations: 1. the front sight hood is not factory and 2. I believe that scope is a period correct B&L Balvar. It's also worth a couple Benjis![;)]...break it off and sell it seperatly.0 -
quote:Originally posted by cartod Also, on photo 36 of the butt it appears that I see some "splintering" around the plastic butt cap. This may be due to someone cutting the stock.
I really don't think this has been cut, nor did the shop owner who evaluated it yesterday. The cap was sanded to match the stock, that's probably what that marking is0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsr1965 It would be nice to see a picture of the Butt Plate itself...actually essential. This might be the factory one, or a factory one.
I will try to do that today.0
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