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- Winchester 1894 Blue Book Value
- Winchester Model 70 Serial Numbers Date Of Manufacture
- Winchester Model 70 Serial Numbers Post 64
- The information below was taken from rough documents that were typed up a number of years ago and do not yet exist digitally. To obtain date of manufacture on a Model 70 made after 1992 please contact the Winchester Customer Service Department at 800-333-3288.
- The most collectable Model 70s and 94s are the 'pre-64' guns, manufactured before a significant production change in 1964. For those Model 70 and 94 owners interested in when their specific rifle was made, the tables below show serial number range by year made.
- The best way to identify a pre-1964 Model 70 Winchester rifles is the serial number and the fore-end screw to secure the barrel to the stock. Model 70 rifles with serial numbers below 700,000 are the pre-1964 variety. The receivers of these Model 70s were machined from bar stock steel.
- The Model 70 came out in 1935 and in only a couple of calibers to start with. You have to remember that Winchester was still making another bolt action centerfire rifle, the Model 54, and they had to test the model 70 and sell the left over model 54's before they could release a new gun.
The post-64 Winchester model 94 begin with serial number 2,700,000..38-40 Winchester, and.44-40 Winchester,.410 shotgun, 30-30 caliber (30 WCF). Began with Serial Number 1 and the Winchester Model 94 Serial Numbers run more. Model 1894 (Mod 94) - Winchester Dates of Manufacture.
What year was my Winchester manufactured? (Serial Number Reference)
Winchester Firearms Manufacturing Dates by Serial Number and Year 1866 through the early 1990s
Below is the download link for a special resource for dating Winchester firearms. These pages were scanned from documents compiled over the years by the customer service department of Winchester Repeating Arms. None of the page scans are of original documents but are simply transcribed information typed into a word processing program. In general, this information is the same that you would get if you called our customer service department and asked them for the information. They use these documents as a reference and the documents should be limited to that use.
Click the image below to download the PDF document containing the serial number date-range information on many Winchester firearms. You will need the Adobe Reader program to open this file. Adobe Reader is available free from Adobe.
THE HISTORY OF WINCHESTER HISTORIC SERIAL NUMBER RECORDS.
There are many “legends” about why the historic serial number records for Winchester rifles and shotguns are not complete or why they are not always verifiable. A few reasons cited are:
There are many “legends” about why the historic serial number records for Winchester rifles and shotguns are not complete or why they are not always verifiable. A few reasons cited are:
- A fire at the factory
- Inadvertent destruction (during office cleaning)
- Records simply lost in filing
- Records misplaced between ownership transitions
- Documents borrowed but not returned
There is probably some kernel of truth to all of them. But the fact remains; there is no original, single, totally accurate database of serial numbers from 1866 forward that we are aware of. But perhaps these pages can help you somewhat in your research.
Please keep the following points in mind as you explore these pages:
- Many of the Winchester brand firearms produced over the years are included, but not all. If your firearm is not listed, we probably do not have any additional information.
- Before the 1990s the Winchester Repeating Arms firearms brand transferred ownership several times. Any information before the 1990s is always difficult to verify.
- In general, only serial number ranges with an approximate year are provided in this document. There is no other detail beyond this that we can provide.
- Since this information was provided through old documents (both official and otherwise), no representation is made that all serial number and year combinations are totally accurate.
- In some exceptional cases, a more detailed, accurate determination can be made by calling the Winchester Repeating Arms Historian at the Morgan, Utah office. 800-333-3288. Ask for the Winchester Repeating Arms Historian.
- For any other questions: 800.333.3288 or 801.876.2711. For Parts and Service call: 800.322.4626
- For questions related to Ammunition don’t call us. Contact Winchester Ammunition directly.
- No attempt has been made to determine the value of any guns listed.
- The Cody Firearms Museum has more information on Winchesters produced before 1900.
- This late historian George Madis compiled extensive histories on Winchester firearms. www.georgemadis.com
Winchester 1894 Blue Book Value
There are other outside resources – including the Cody Firearm Museum -- which can be excellent for determining date of manufacture and value: Click here to go to our gun values resource links.
Click below to download a PDF overview of Cody Museum serial number resources.
(Please remember that this information is a compilation over time -- collected from secondhand information. No confidentail records were used. We reserve the right to make changes at any time and make no claims as to accuracy. No attempt has been made to determine the value of any Winchester products.)
© Winchester Repeating Arms, 2012, 2015, R. Stitt
Winchester Pre-'64 Model 70 Serial #25
Winchester Model 70 Serial Numbers Date Of Manufacture
By David Tong
There is probably not one regular reader of Guns and Shooting Online that does notknow the Winchester Model 70 story. The Rifleman's Rifle is one of the bestknown sporting rifles in the world. The M-70 is revered, because it is ahighly-refined, American-made, improved derivative of the renowned Mauser 1898 boltaction design. It has been lauded in the gun press for over 70 years. Like theMauser 98, the Model 70 is a controlled feed action with a full length extractorand a fixed, receiver mounted ejector. The receiver was machined from a single blockof steel with an integral recoil lug and an open top for ease of loading andunloading. The one-piece bolt body was also machined from a steel billet.
Most knowledgeable gun cranks and collectors have yearned for a “pre-1964” Winchester,because of the revision of the M-70 (actually a whole new design, although theModel 70 nomenclature was retained) that took place in 1964, rendering thepost-'64 a simpler, push feed action. This redesign was the result of costcutting that seems to be a part of all major high-production firearm companies,not just Winchester. The post-'64 Model 70 was their answer to the RemingtonModel 700, which was far less expensive to build and thus more profitable. The pushfeed Model 70, although much maligned in the gun press, remained afundamentally better and more expensive action than the Model 700, roughlycomparable to today's Weatherby Vanguard.
Of all the Holy Grails of Winchester M70 collecting, a low numbered pre-war wouldsurely take first chair and I recently handled this particular rifle, which hasbeen offered for sale. It is a standard grade Model 70 in “.30 GOVT 06”caliber, with approximately 98% of its bluing and an original stock inapproximately 93% condition. The stock has plenty of drop, as it was designed for use with iron sights. The bore is mint.
The receiver and barrel are both polished and blued, which is unusual. A matte finished receiver was standard for pre-WW II Model 70's, just as it was for post-war Model 70's. It is probable that this rifle has been re-blued at some point. The only part missing is the original folding rear leaf sight, probably removed to provide clearance for a telescopic sight.
The receiver has been drilled and tapped for scope mounts, as you can see in the photo below. Pre-war Model 70 receivers were not drilled and tapped for scope mounts by the factory. They have a smaller rear receiver ring than post-war Model 70's and a pre-war Model 70 that has been drilled and tapped cannot use post-war Model 70 bases; the rear base will not be tall enough.
The safety is the early 90-degree two-position type that is either off, or locksboth the striker and the bolt. This differs from the vast majority of M-70'sthat have a three-position safety, allowing for unloading with a lockedstriker, that is used to this day.
Needless to say, all the hallmarks of old-time production gun making are present. Allparts are milled from forgings, there are no stampings, castings, or plasticand many of the parts were undoubtedly hand fitted. The barreled action, bottomiron with hinged magazine floor plate and trigger guard are finished in a traditionalpolished blue. The lacquer finished, black walnut stock is hand checkered in a simple pointpattern with good coverage.
Winchester Model 70 Serial Numbers Post 64
What is startling about this M70 is its serial number. It is serial number 25. It was probably manufactured during thefirst week of M-70 production in 1936, during the waning years of the GreatDepression. To handle a Model 70 of this age in this condition is a real treat.