Winchester 70 with G prefix

laurent · Member Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 65 Location: Quebec

I recently purchased a Winchester model 70 used, classic stainless serial number G 62XXX. Would anyone know the year of manufacture. I cannot seem to find out for sure. When I drop the G prefix, it comes back as 1947, but can't seem to find this serial number with the G prefix. Any help would be appreciated.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: Winchester 70 with G prefix

This site might help ya.
www.armscollectors.com...ndates.htm

Joe

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

Your sure there is no "9" after the G?

Claw or Post-64 Extractor?

Dimitri

laurent · Member Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 65 Location: Quebec

Dimitri wrote:

Your sure there is no "9" after the G?

Claw or Post-64 Extractor?

Dimitri

No there is no 9 after the G. The serial is one letter (G) and 5 numbers.
I have try with this site : www.armscollectors.com...ndates.htm
and does not work with serial having a letter.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

No because the letters were added but the serial number range remained the same. G series started at 700,000 when they made post-64 M70 actions.

There are some firearms marked with a G that are with older serial numbers but how much older is anyones guess I have been unable to find a specific number.

Dimitri

chambered221 · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: Winchester 70 with G prefix

The “classic” series came about during the transition to U.S.R.A. (I think early 1980’s)
The classic name was used because they reintroduced the controlled round feed of the pre 64‘s.
The classic stainless was new in 1994, had 22, 24, or 26 inch barrel with a black synthetic in various calibers.

What caliber is yours ??? Some only lasted a year some longer, this might help narrow it down !!!

chambered221 · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:33 pm Post subject: Re: Winchester 70 with G prefix

I do believe you need to look at U.S.R.A. serial numbers not Winchester for anything newer than 1981.

laurent · Member Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 65 Location: Quebec

chambered221 wrote:

The “classic” series came about during the transition to U.S.R.A. (I think early 1980’s)
The classic name was used because they reintroduced the controlled round feed of the pre 64‘s.
The classic stainless was new in 1994, had 22, 24, or 26 inch barrel with a black synthetic in various calibers.

What caliber is yours ??? Some only lasted a year some longer, this might help narrow it down !!!

The caliber is 30-06.
I just spoke to the seller and he said that he remember buying the rifle around 1996 in a store today closed.I found this info on the 70 Classic :

http://westernrifleman.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/the-winchester-model-70-classic/

chambered221 · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Winchester 70 with G prefix

The 30-06 was one of the ones that obviously ran the span of production !!!

The link does not work as a short cut. Copy and paste and you’ll get there.

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

Are you sure its a G and not a 6 ?

laurent · Member Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 65 Location: Quebec

skb2706 wrote:

Are you sure its a G and not a 6 ?

Yes it is a G, and according from the previous owner, the rifle was bought around 1997.

PaulS · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Winchester 70 with G prefix

Was the rifle made for one of the chain stores to sell - Sears, JC Penneys, or one of the others?

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

Given the age I would check on

www.oldguns.net

Still sounds like a 670 which is the cheap version of the Model 70 post 64.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:14 am Post subject: Re: Winchester 70 with G prefix

My Win 70 Classic Featherweight also has a "G" prefix in the serial number and was purchased new in the mid '90s. According to my Blue Book, 28th Edition, the "Classic" designation started being used in 1994 to indicate rifles with controlled round feeding. "Classics" were made from 1994 to 2006.

chambered221 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: Winchester 70 with G prefix

To get an actual date you’ll have to call customer service at USRA.
There is nothing I can find on the net or any books I have access to giving serial number dates of manufacture.
I have found other forum chat that also advises this.