WINCHESTER’S CURRENT MODEL 70 – STILL THE RIFLEMAN’S RIFLE?
Aside from the Mauser M98, there can be little doubt that the Winchester Model 70 is the best known and most venerated of bolt actions. For almost a century, and despite many changes, some good and others less so, the Model 70 has managed to remain in production and continues to sell well, despite fierce competition from other US and international competitors.
THE START OF THE MODEL 70
The Model 70 as we know it today went into production on 20 January 1936 at Winchester’s historic plant in New Haven, Connecticut. It was officially released on 1 January 1937, by which time the factory had produced more than 2 000 rifles. The initial price listed for a standard Model 70 sporter was a hefty $61,25. How times have changed!
Model 70 receivers were machined from chrome-moly steel and finished by hand, including the Winchester logo roll-marked on the sidewall of the action. This was followed by spot-hardening of the extraction cam behind the bridge as well as heat-treating, tumbling, and bluing before the actions could be sent for assembly.
A few things set the Model 70 apart from its competitors
