1. Winchester Model 12 Values By Serial Num…
2. Winchester Serial Numbers
3. Serial Numbers Winchester Model 70
4. Winchester Hotchkiss 1st Model Navy Serial Numbers 2017
5. Winchester Model 12 Serial Number Lookup

by Bruce N. Canfield - Monday, May 23, 2016

1. The.45-70 Hotchkiss was acquired in limited numbers by the US Navy as the M1879, and (in a slightly modified version) by the US Army and several state militias as the M1883, making it the first bolt-action repeater to be adopted by any major military. The Chinese Empire purchased 15,000 Winchester-Hotchkiss rifles in 1881.
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Maj. Gen. Charles M. Wesson, Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army, takes aim with the first Winchester-made M1 rifle to roll off the firm’s production line on January 10, 1941. To the general’s left is John Cantius Garand, inventor of the M1 rifle.
This article was first published in American Rifleman, April 2005
To most gun enthusiasts, the name Winchester typically conjures up images of lever-action rifles or slide-action shotguns. For many years, the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven, Conn., manufactured myriad types of high-quality firearms for the civilian market. Although the company gained fame for its sporting firearms, Winchester was also an important supplier of military arms to the U.S. government from the late 1870s through the early 1960s. While its trademark lever-actions were not embraced by the American military, Winchester produced a number of firearms under government contract during the latter part of the 19th century, including several types of bolt-action Hotchkiss rifles and carbines and the Model of 1895 6 mm Lee Navy straight-pull rifle. During World War I, Winchester delivered large numbers of U.S. M1917 Enfield rifles to the government along with some Model of 1918 Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs) and Model 1897 trench and riot shotguns.

Winchester 1st Model Hotchkiss Carbine (W3164) GI#: 101096204 Winchester 1st Model Hotchkiss carbine. This is a rare 1st Model Hotchkiss carbine. Winchester Model 73's with 7 leaf express sights were manufactured for the India and South Africa markets and are hard to find today in the United States today. The first Winchester Model 73 Winchester's had thumb print dust covers with 5 different ones made in the first and early second model 73's. Winchester did not manufacture and stamp serial numbers on Model 1894 receivers every single day, and there are instances were none were made for an entire month. The PR records were a necessary tool to keep track of serial number sequence and the inventory. The next step in the process was the assembly and final fitting of the individual firearms. Winchester 1st Model Hotchkiss carbine. This is a rare 1st Model Hotchkiss carbine. This gun has a gray/brown patina, but no pitting on the metal. All of the markings remain nice and sharp. The wood h.Click for more info. This is a US Military Winchester model 1883 Hotchkiss 'NAVY' 2nd Style bolt rifle in 45-70 Government caliber. The barrel is 28' long and the bore and chamber are excellent. The barrel is fitted with a 'Buffington' rear sight.

When war broke out in Europe in 1939, the United States was shaken out of its between-the-wars lethargy and formulated plans to rearm our ill-equipped military. The semi-automatic M1 Garand rifle was adopted in 1936 but, initially, production proceeded at a rather slow pace at the government-owned and -operated Springfield Armory. When it became obvious that the U.S. military would soon require additional quantities of service rifles, Springfield Armory was ordered to boost production of the M1 rifle. Even with this increased output, however, a secondary source of Garand rifle production was needed.

To this end, a number of commercial arms manufacturers were approached regarding the possibility of producing M1s under government contract. Several firms submitted bids and, after some negotiation, Winchester was selected. It is likely that the company’s past experience as a supplier of small arms to the U.S. military played some role in the company’s selection.

Educational Order Rifles
On April 4, 1939, Winchester was granted an Educational Order (Contract #W-ORD-343) for 500 M1 rifles along with one tool, fixture and gauge for each part. The reason for such a small quantity was to determine the company’s suitability for manufacturing the rifle prior to the granting of a large production contract. If, after completion of the initial Educational Order, the company—or the government—was not satisfied, Winchester could bow out of any subsequent orders and other potential manufacturers would be sought for the rifles.

Winchester designated the Garand rifle as the Model 39 in internal company documents and records. Winchester was assigned the serial number range of 100,001-100,500 for the Educational Order M1s. As Winchester tooled up to produce the 500 M1 rifles, the Ordnance Department ordered several changes to the initial specifications. The most significant of these changes was the configuration of the gas system. The M1’s original gas system was of the so-called “gas trap” variety. After the rifle was introduced in service, this gas system proved to have some faults. A redesigned and improved “gas port” system, which utilized a hole drilled in the barrel to vent the gas necessary to operate the action, was developed and adopted. This change in gas systems for the Winchester M1 rifles was approved on July 13, 1940, and an additional $9,030 was granted to the firm to cover the costs of the manufacturing changes. Since Winchester was a civilian entity, the company had to be compensated for any changes to the original contract. Winchester did not manufacture any gas trap M1s.

There were the typical glitches inherent to the production of any new mechanical object, which resulted in some delay in initial production.

Even with Winchester’s well-established history of mass production of guns, a few components of the Educational Order M1 rifles required some hand fitting and finishing. A number of parts, especially stocks, showed evidence of being shaped by hand to the desired configuration. Regardless of these problems, the first 100 Educational Order M1 rifles were delivered by Winchester on December 27, 1940. The remaining rifles were completed by March 10, 1941.

Winchester Model 12 Values By Serial Num…

Second Contract Rifles
Even while the Educational Order rifles were still being manufactured, Winchester was offered a contract for the production of 65,000 M1s. The company agreed to the proposal, and the contract was awarded on September 20, 1939. In order to help set up for mass production of the M1, representatives from Springfield Armory met with the Winchester management and engineering teams to formulate plans for greatly increased production of the Garand at the New Haven plant.

While superficially appearing to be cooperative, there was a surprising amount of friction, if not outright hostility, between the Winchester and Springfield Armory teams. Some internal Winchester documents had rather unkind things to say about the Springfield people. Likewise, some Springfield personnel were known to accuse the Winchester firm of everything from incompetence to greed. While the situation apparently improved a bit during the course of production, bitterness between the two entities lingered throughout much of the war.

The so-called Second Contract Winchester M1 rifles were serially numbered in sequence to the Educational Order rifles, 100,501-165,500. Production commenced in February 1941, and these rifles began to be shipped from the factory in April 1941.

The M1 rifles manufactured by Springfield and Winchester during this period were very similar. Many of the components, such as the receiver, operating rod, bolt, hammer and safety, were stamped with the initials of the manufacturer (“sa” or “wra”) and a drawing number that identified the specific part. The stocks were stamped with a circled “P” proof mark on the grip to denote that the rifle had been successfully proof-fired as part of the inspection process. Upon final assembly, a stamp, today often referred to colloquially as a cartouche, was applied to the left side of the stock to indicate that the rifle met all requisite inspections and was accepted into government service. Rifles manufactured by Springfield Armory were stamped “sa” over the initials of the commanding officer of the Armory at the time. The Winchester M1s were stamped “wra” (Winchester Repeating Arms) over the initials of the head of the Hartford Ordnance District, in which the company was located. The Educational Order Winchester M1s and early production Second Contract rifles were stamped “wra/rs” on the stock to indicate “Winchester Repeating Arms/Robert Sears.” Col. Robert Sears was replaced as the Hartford Ordnance District head in July 1941 by Col. Waldemar Broberg and the final inspection stamp was changed to “wra/wb.” There were two variations of Broberg’s inspection stamp.

As production continued, there were a number of design modifications instituted to speed production and/or improve the utility of the rifle. One noteworthy modification was the introduction of a hinged recess in the buttstock to store cleaning implements. Other changes included the elimination of the keystone-pattern operating rod spring that was replaced by a coil-type spring, incorporation of a relief cut on the rear handguard and, slightly later, an improved rear sight which included a locking bar to more securely hold the adjustments. These modifications were implemented at Springfield soon after adoption, as it only required the issuing of proper orders through channels to authorize such production changes. On the other hand, such alterations were not as easily accomplished at Winchester since the firm was a civilian entity.

Any changes to the original contract specifications required negotiation to determine appropriate compensation due to the company and the expected time-frame for the changes. Therefore, most of these modifications were generally instituted on Springfield M1s some months before they were incorporated on Winchester M1s. Some changes, such as the configuration of the safety, were never changed on Winchester rifles. In all fairness, with few exceptions, the various modifications were relatively minor and did not impair the overall effectiveness of the M1 rifle. There were some problems encountered fairly early in Winchester’s production with out-of-spec operating rods and similar issues, but these were resolved in short order.

Perhaps surprisingly, Winchester M1 rifles often left the factory with parts that were not, cosmetically speaking, as well finished as their Springfield Armory counterparts. Many of these parts evidenced signs of hasty production such as tool chatter marks, which indicated little polishing prior to finishing. It is a bit surprising that a company known for high-quality and beautifully finished commercial guns would turn out rifles with roughly finished parts. It is even more perplexing that, as a rule, many of the Springfield Armory parts of the same vintage were better finished. On the other hand, all M1s shipped out of the New Haven plant were passed by government inspectors and, thus, were as serviceable as their Springfield Armory counterparts. If an M1 passed inspection and was accepted into service, Winchester got paid. In wartime, functionality and production rate trump cosmetic considerations.

It is also important to remember that while Winchester was heavily involved in manufacturing the M1 rifle, the firm was producing large numbers of M1 Carbines (which the company developed) along with fairly sizeable quantities of Model 97 and Model 12 military shotguns.

Subsequent Contracts
As the war progressed, additional M1 rifle production contracts were granted to Winchester. Winchester was assigned additional serial number blocks for M1 rifle production in the 1,200,000 to 2,400,000 range. During the course of production, some of the updated components, such as the hinged buttplate recess and locking bar rear sight, were incorporated in the Winchester M1s. The final inspection stamp was changed to “wra/ghd” to represent Col. Guy H. Drewry who replaced Col. Broberg in June 1942. The majority of Winchester M1 Garand rifles were manufactured during Col. Drewry’s tenure.

Even though the M1s manufactured by Springfield and Winchester were functionally identical, there are some relatively minor differences in some of the parts between the two manufacturers, beyond the markings. For example, the protective ears of the front sight on Winchester rifles are noticeably wider than on the Springfield-made Garands (13/16' vs. 5/8' to 11/16'). Also, the locking bar of the Winchester M1’s rear sight is rounded on the ends, whereas the Springfield bars are square on the ends. Another difference is that the barrel ring on the Winchester M1 gas cylinder is rounded on top, but the Springfield gas cylinder barrel ring is milled flat in that area. Original Winchester gas cylinders had a slight bluish tint (Du-Lite), while the Springfield M1 gas cylinders were black (Molyblack). There were also rather subtle differences in the configuration of the Winchester and Springfield stocks. Regardless of these differences, all components of the M1 rifle were interchangeable between both manufacturers.

WIN-13 Rifles
The final contract for M1 rifle production was granted to Winchester in February 1945 and was a bit of a departure from the previous WRA contracts in several respects. This last production run of rifles was assigned the serial number range of 1,600,000-1,640,000. This was unusual because this serial number range is much lower than the prior block of serial numbers assigned to Winchester. This is an obvious departure from the typical practice of ascending serial numbers as production continued. In other words, these rifles have much lower serial numbers than Winchester M1 rifles manufactured months, or even a couple of years, earlier. These final contract Winchester M1 rifles also had the receiver drawing number changed from “D282591-2” to “D28291 WIN-13” and are referred to by collectors today as “WIN 13” rifles. The reason(s) for the large numeric jump from revision No. 2 to revision No. 13 (and the addition “WIN” prefix) on the receiver is not known. Another difference between the earlier Winchester M1 rifles and the WIN-13 rifles was the change in the receiver bolt recess from a square to a round profile configuration.

Since the WIN-13 contract came late in the war, Winchester wished to use up any remaining M1 components on hand in order to keep from having unusable (and un-saleable) parts left over if the contracts were cancelled due to the winding down of the war. To this end, the WIN-13 rifles were assembled using a mixture of early and late vintage parts. To put it simply, whatever serviceable parts the company had on hand at the time were used to assemble these late production rifles, regardless of the vintage.

Winchester’s M1 production contract was cancelled in June, 1945, and the WIN-13 represented the last production variant of the Winchester Garand. By the time Winchester ceased M1 production, the company turned out a total of 513,880 Garand rifles as compared to just over 31⁄2 million by Springfield Armory. As was the case with the M1 rifles manufactured by Springfield Armory, the majority of the Winchester Garands were subsequently overhauled after the war. Any damaged, worn or superseded parts were replaced as part of the overhaul procedure. In many cases, the only Winchester part that remained was the receiver, and even that was invariably re-Parkerized.

Although the company did not manufacture any M1 rifles after World War II, large numbers of the refurbished Winchester M1s were issued during the post-war years. When the M14 rifle was adopted in 1957, Winchester received a production contract in 1959. It was initially believed that the company’s prior experience manufacturing the M1 would be helpful, given the similarities between the two arms. As events transpired, this perceived advantage did not materialize and Winchester had as much trouble as the other commercial contractors (Harrington & Richardson Arms Company and TRW) in getting into mass production of the M14 during the early 1960s. Eventually, Winchester produced 356,501 M14s, just over one-quarter of the total production.

The days of the M1 as a front-line, state-of-the-art service rifle are long past, but it has garnered much popularity in recent years with collectors and still enjoys success on the target range. Any M1 rifle can be a valued and desirable collectible, but the examples manufactured by Winchester will almost certainly continue to attract attention—and fetch prices—well out of proportion to their actual scarcity. The Winchester Garand is a great example of how America’s civilian arms makers assisted this nation’s efforts in time of war. Some may think of the Winchester lever-action as “The Gun that Won the West,” but it should also be remembered that the Winchester Garand (along with its Springfield Armory counterpart) was the gun that helped win World War II!

The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting rifle. It has an iconic place in American sporting culture and has been held in high regard by shooters since it was introduced in 1936, earning the moniker 'The Rifleman's Rifle'.^[1] The action has some design similarities to Mauser designs and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54.

The Model 70 was originally manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company between 1936 and 1980. From the early 1980s until 2006, Winchester rifles were manufactured by U.S. Repeating Arms under an agreement with Olin Corporation, allowing USRA to use the Winchester name and logo.^[2] Model 70s were built in New Haven, Connecticut, from 1936 to 2006, when production ceased. In the fall of 2007, the Belgian company FN Herstal announced that Model 70 production would resume. As of 2012, new Winchester Model 70 rifles were being made by FN Herstal in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2013, assembly was moved to Portugal.

• 21936 through 1963 Model 70
• 31964 through 1992 Model 70
• 51992 to 2006 Model 70
  • 5.1Model 70 Classic

The Model 70[edit]

In 1936, Winchester introduced the Model 70 bolt-action rifle to the American market. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called 'The Rifleman's Rifle'. In 1999 Shooting Times magazine named the Model 70 the 'Bolt-action Rifle of the Century'.^[3]

Throughout its life, the Model 70 has been offered in many grades and styles. Over the entire production of the Model 70, chamberings have included: .22 Hornet, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .223 WSSM, .225 Winchester, .220 Swift, .243 Winchester, .243 WSSM, .250-3000 Savage, .257 Roberts, .25-06 Remington, .25 WSSM, 6.5×55mm, .264 Winchester Magnum, 6.5mm Creedmoor, .270 Winchester, .270 WSM, .270 Weatherby Magnum, .280 Remington, 7mm Mauser, 7mm-08, 7 mm Remington Magnum, 7mm WSM, 7mm STW, .300 Savage, .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .300 H&H Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 WSM, .300 Weatherby Magnum, .300 RUM, .325 WSM, .338 Winchester Magnum, .35 Remington, .358 Winchester, .375 H&H Magnum, .416 Remington Magnum, .416 Rigby, .458 Winchester Magnum, and .470 Capstick.

1936 through 1963 Model 70[edit]

The pre-1964 Model 70s were manufactured from 1936 through 1963 after which time significant changes in the design and manufacture of the rifles were made. Pre-1964 Model 70s bring a substantial price premium due to a public perception that they were better, as they had several desirable features (Mauser-type controlled round feed, cut checkering) that the post-1964 version did not. 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.^[4] Model 70 rifles with serial numbers below 700,000^[5] are the pre-1964 variety. The receivers of these Model 70s were machined from bar stock steel.

Pre-1964 Model 70 action (controlled round feed)[edit]

The original Model 70 quickly established an excellent reputation with American sportsmen. It was a high-quality action of considerable strength, with two forward locking lugs and a Mauser-type non-rotating claw extractor. The key benefit of the Mauser-type extractor compared to later versions is that it more positively extracts the spent casing. This feature is often referred to as 'controlled round feeding' (CRF) because the extractor captures the rim of a cartridge as it is fed upwards from the magazine and controls its journey forward into the rifle's chamber. Later designs referred to as 'push feed,' only capture the cartridge by the magazine lips and the chamber and the cartridge is not held to the bolt face until a spring-loaded extractor is pushed over the cartridge's extractor groove. The smaller extractor of the push feed action may slip or break off a spent casing stuck in the chamber under adverse conditions. Therefore the more positive extraction of the controlled round feeding action is favored by some shooters, especially those who pursue dangerous game, who require rifles to extract reliably. This function is necessary to allow subsequent cartridges to be fed and fired in a bolt-action rifle with only a single barrel. The ejector on the original Model 70 was of the blade type similar to that of the Mauser 98, but considered superior as it did not require a Mauser-type slot through the left locking lug; instead, there was a slot in the bolt face below the locking lug, leaving both forward lugs solid and hence stronger. The main benefit of the blade type ejector is it is simpler and perhaps more reliable (being considered less susceptible to ingress of foreign matter) when compared to the later post-1964 plunger ejector in the bolt face controlled by a coil spring.

Other significant features of this action include a three-position wing-type safety (retained throughout Model 70 production), a cone breeching-system that helps prevent bullet-nose damage while loading a cartridge from the magazine, machined steel trigger-guard and floor plate, one-piece bolt construction, and a trigger adjustable for pull weight and over-travel.

1964 through 1992 Model 70[edit]

Competing as it did with the Remington Model 700, it was decided that changes needed to be made in the face of rising labour costs. Accordingly, in 1964 Winchester made a number of design changes to the Model 70. Few to none of these changes were popular with the rifle-buying public, or with the US military. The changes included dropping the controlled round feed feature, a change to the basic stock shape and the use of impressed checkering rather than cut checkering.

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Jack O'Connor, long a proponent of the Model 70, wrote of the post-1964 version that 'I was informed by Winchester brass that the Model 70 was being redesigned. I told them that I was glad to get the information so I could lay in four or five more before they loused the rifle up. Then I saw the pilot model of 'New Model 70.' At the first glimpse I like to fell into a swoon. The action was simplified, the trigger guard and floor plate made of a flimsy looking one-piece stamping.' Despite this initial reaction, O'Connor grudgingly went on to say, 'Actually the post-1964 Model 70 is not a bad rifle in spite of the fact that rifle aficionados have never taken it to their bosoms the way they did its predecessor. It is a stronger action than the pre-1964. The head of the bolt encloses the head of the case. It has a small, neat hook extractor, which is adequate. With this extractor the cartridge is not as surely controlled as it is with the Mauser-type extractor. However, the new model seldom gives feeding problems.'^[6]

Post-1964 Model 70 action (push feed)[edit]

In order to reduce manufacturing costs in the face of higher labour rates, rifles manufactured from 1964 to 1992 differed from early Model 70s in the following ways:

• The receiver, for the first time, and from here on out, was forged into shape, then machined. Heat treatment of the receiver was localized to the areas where necessary, namely the cams and locking lugs, to prevent warping caused by overall heat treatment. Forging the receiver increased its strength and reduced the machining labor and time needed to achieve the final shape.^[7]
• The bolt was changed significantly. The bolt face was enclosed so that it fully surrounded the cartridge rim, in a similar way to the Remington 700 bolt. While cheaper to manufacture than the undercut bolt face needed for controlled feed actions, it is also stronger, providing more support to the cartridge case head, and better contains escaping gases in the event of a case rupture. The new bolt also differed from the old in that it was manufactured in 2 pieces (bolt-handle/collar and the bolt body^[8]) and then brazed together.
• The Mauser-inspired, non-rotating claw extractor (incompatible with a fully enclosed bolt head) was eliminated, and replaced with a small wedge-shaped extractor located within a lug of the bolt head. This type of extractor does not engage the cartridge rim as it rises from the magazine into the action, but rather clips over the cartridge rim after the cartridge has been pushed into the chamber and the bolt handle is turned down. This system is more vulnerable than the old system to jamming or being inadvertently closed on an empty breech (i.e., failing to load a new round) if operated under duress, especially if the rifle is held upside-down or on its side. In addition, the old extractor design served to stabilize the bolt while the action was open; without it, the new bolt did not have any such stabilization, and wobbled while fully open. This has since been fixed in later rifles, but it was nevertheless an obvious departure and certainly less elegant in function than the earlier models, which allowed the rifle to chamber cartridges smoothly from any position.
• Barrels were now rifled by hammer forging, rather than the more costly process of being cut by hand.
• The machined steel trigger guard and floor plate were replaced with parts stamped from an aluminium alloy to reduce weight using the assembly from the pre-1964 Featherweight version.
• Some earlier models featured walnut stocks with checkering that was impressed onto the wood rather than cut into it as on the early Model 70s, further reducing manufacturing costs at the expense of a less positive grip on the rifle, particularly if the shooter is wearing gloves.

Any Model 70 rifle made since that is not designated as a 'Classic' model is likely to have this post-1964 action. In design terms (enclosed bolt face, plunger ejector, brazed bolt construction) the new action itself was comparable in design to the competing Remington Model 700, which has a worldwide following and is considered to be very reliable. When coupled with the other cost-cutting changes and compared with the previously produced and very familiar Model 70, however, it was immediately declared to be lacking.The new design of the rifle was swiftly and severely criticized by both gun writers and riflemen alike for its perceived lesser amount of control and feed issues, making the original action much more prized.

The post-1964 action has been further improved over the years. Thanks to a refined bolt head design, the bolt is now less wobbly when open, and the action is now generally considered on par with the CRF action. Under normal conditions, the action's new design is no less reliable, and although the simplified construction is certainly less elegant, some of the changes could be considered improvements, having made the action stronger.^[9] Also, the pressed checkering, one of the most reviled changes, was likewise done away with as soon as machine-cut checkering became available. All things considered, in normal situations there is now not much to choose between the two versions at present, apart from personal preference.

1968 Model 70[edit]

In 1968 further revisions were made to the Model 70 in part to address consumer concerns.^[10] An 'anti-bind' feature was introduced to make operation of the action smoother, which comprised a groove in an extended right locking lug operating on a rib on the right side of the receiver. This made the action noticeably smoother to operate and has been retained to the present day. A steel floorplate and stainless magazine follower were introduced, partially revoking changes introduced in the 1964 model. The alloy trigger guard was retained.

1992 to 2006 Model 70[edit]

Starting in 1992, Winchester re-introduced many features of the pre-1964 rifles, while also continuing to manufacture less-expensive variants. The post-1992 Model 70 is an extensive rifle line that boasts nearly all of the features of the original line, but with some updated equipment, such as the Controlled Round Push Feed action and synthetic stocks. The popular Shadow variants feature black resin stocks, which reduce the price of the firearm significantly, and hold up better than wood stocks over time. Some of the modern rifles also use high performance McMillan or Bell and Carlson fiberglass stocks, though these rifles tend to be expensive. Particular models feature a one-piece aluminum pillar block bedding for greater accuracy, and some models have fluting of the barrel to reduce weight and vent the barrel for additional cooling. Carbon fiber barrels are also found on select models to reduce weight and dissipate heat faster. Walnut stocks are still found across the line in satin finishes, and laminated walnut stocks are added to the mix for structural stability in extreme dry or wet conditions. The Model 70 is offered in all of the previous chamberings as the original, and is now supplemented with newer rounds, including the Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) and Winchester Super Short Magnum (WSSM) cartridges, which are magnum loaded rounds, but are shorter in length and wider in diameter, so spent cartridges take less time to eject and use less powder. However, these short magnum cartridges reduce magazine capacity and feeding reliability, due to their extra width and rebated rim.

Model 70 Classic[edit]

In 1992, Winchester began producing a controlled round feed Model 70 that was marketed as the 'Classic' model. This version reintroduced the CRF feature, while retaining the 'anti-bind' locking lug groove bolt guide of the 1968 push feed model. The use of modern CNC manufacturing techniques allowed Winchester to re-introduce the CRF feature at a competitive price.

Around this time, Browning, which is owned by the same parent company as USRAC, Giat Corp, of France, introduced the BOSS accuracy system. The term 'BOSS' is an acronym for Ballistic Optimising Shooting System. The device attaches to the muzzle end of the barrel and allows the natural harmonics, commonly known as barrel whip, caused during the bullet's passage down the bore, to be refined and controlled. By adjusting the device for optimum performance in the individual rifle, accuracy is brought to peak level. Winchester Model 70s equipped with the BOSS provide a significant improvement in accuracy for a production rifle. Currently, only Browning rifles are available with the BOSS.

Later, Winchester expanded the Classic line, putting the Classic action on all their modern stocks, giving a wide range of choice in rifle types. This basically lets the buyer choose an action, then choose a stock to one's liking. Both pre- and post-1964 versions of the Model 70 actions have their strengths and weaknesses.^[9]

1992 Classic Model (Controlled Round Feed and Controlled Round Push Feed)[edit]

At the same time as the CRF feature was re-introduced, a recent innovation allowed the short extractor used on the post-1964 models to ride over the extraction groove on a cartridge, giving controlled feeding without the expense of the long Mauser type extractor. This was called Controlled Round Push Feed. This is achieved by the use of the pre-1964 extractor, combined with the post-1964 bolt face relieved at the bottom allowing the round to engage the bolt face from underneath.

2006–present Model 70[edit]

On March 31, 2006, U.S. Repeating Arms closed the New Haven, Conn. plant where Winchester rifles and shotguns were produced for 140 years.^[1] This resulted in hiatus of the production of the Winchester Model 70 rifle and Winchester Model 1300 pump-action shotgun and the end of the Model 94 lever-action rifle. Other Winchester models however, are still produced in other regions such as Asia and Europe.

On August 15, 2006, Olin Corporation, owner of the Winchester trademarks, announced that it had entered into a new license agreement with Browning to make Winchester brand rifles and shotguns, though not at the closed Winchester plant in New Haven. Browning, based in Morgan, Utah, and the former licensee, U.S. Repeating Arms Company, are both subsidiaries of FN Herstal.

Winchester Serial Numbers

In October 2007, FN Herstal announced that it would produce Controlled Round Feed Winchester Model 70 rifles at its facility in Columbia, South Carolina, where it currently manufactures the M240, M249, and M16 for the United States military, as well as its SPR and PBR lines, which are, in fact, variants of the modern Model 70 Controlled Round Feed rifles.

In 2013, FN/Browning relocated Model 70 assembly to Portugal.

As of 2015, Model 70 rifles are stamped, 'Imported by BACO, Inc., Morgan, Utah – Made in Portugal by Browning Viana'.

Law enforcement use[edit]

The Winchester Model 70 series rifles are marketed as sniper rifles for military forces and law enforcement agencies under the Fabrique Nationale banner as the Special Police Rifle (SPR) and the Patrol Bolt Rifle (PBR).

The FN Special Police Rifle has the standard Winchester Model 70 rifle action, receiver and magazine system but the rifle is fitted with a heavier barrel and with the McMillan series tactical rifle stocks.

The FN Patrol Bolt Rifle has the standard features of the original Winchester Model 70 rifle but the rifle is designed for use by police officers in patrol cars with the rifle having a short and compact barrel so it would allow the rifle to be stored in a police car. The FN Patrol Bolt Rifle is also marketed with a compensator on the muzzle of the rifle's barrel.

Military use[edit]

The United States Marine Corps purchased 373 Model 70 rifles in May, 1942. Although the Marine Corps officially used only the M1 Garand and the M1903 Springfield as sniper rifles during the Second World War, 'many Winchester Model 70s showed up at training camps and in actual field use during the Pacific campaign.'^[11] These rifles had 24-inch shorter barrels chambered for .30-06 Springfield. They were serial numbered in the 41000 to 50000 range and were fitted with leaf sights and checkered stocks with steel butt plates, one-inch sling swivels, and leather slings. It has been reported that some of these rifles were equipped with 8X Unertl telescopic sights for limited unofficial use as sniper weapons on Guadalcanal and during the Korean War. Many of the surviving rifles, after reconditioning with heavier Douglas barrels and new stocks between 1956 and 1963 at the Marine Corps match rebuild shop in Albany, Georgia, were fitted with 8× Unertl sights from M1903A1 sniper rifles. The reconditioned rifles were used in competitive shooting matches; and the United States Army purchased approximately 200 new Model 70 National Match Rifles with medium heavy barrels for match use between 1954 and 1957. Many of the reconditioned Marine Corps match rifles were used by Marine Corps snipers during the early years of the Vietnam war with M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets. A smaller number of the Army's Model 70 rifles also saw combat use by Army snipers; and some were equipped with silencers for covert operations in Southeast Asia. These Model 70 rifles never achieved the status of a standard military weapon; but were used until replaced by the Remington Model 700 series bolt-action rifles which became the basis for the M40 series sniper rifle.^[12]

One of the reasons the U.S. Chameleon bootloader mach_kernel. Marine Corps replaced their Winchester Model 70s was that the post-1964 variants of the Model 70 did not meet U.S. Marines' standards.^{[citation needed]} Despite the introduction of the Remington Model 700 rifle, the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 was still used by the US Marine Corps' scout/sniper teams during the Vietnam War alongside the Remington Model 700 rifle. The original wood stocks were found to be warping in both rifles after a few years of service and both rifles were given fiberglass stocks to remedy the problem.^[13] Existing Model 70s still in service have had their stocks replaced with a McMillan fiberglass stock, such as that found on the Custom Extreme Weather variant.^{[citation needed]}

One of the best known U.S. Marine Corps snipers who used the Winchester Model 70 during the Vietnam War was Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, who used a Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered in .30-06. It was this rifle, equipped with a standard 8×43 Unertl scope, that Hathcock used to kill a North Vietnamese enemy sniper by shooting him in the eye, through the scope of his Mosin–Nagant rifle. Hathcock's rifle is on display at the Quantico, Virginia Marine Corps Sniper Museum.

Users[edit]

• Australia
• Canada
• Japan
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Philippines
• United States
• United Kingdom

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Serial Numbers Winchester Model 70

1. ^p239 Bolt Action Rifles by Frank de Haas, DBI Books INC, Northfield ILL, USA, 1971, ISBN0-695-80220-8
2. ^Hawks, Chuck. 'The Rifleman's Rifle: Winchester's Model 70', Chuck Hawks' Web site. Accessed June 11, 2008.
3. ^'Hunting and Wildlife Management'. about.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
4. ^Barsness, John. 'Shooting 70 Years of Model 70s', American Rifleman.
5. ^p245 Bolt Action Rifles by Frank de Haas, DBI Books INC, Northfield ILL, USA, 1971, ISBN0-695-80220-8
6. ^Jack O'Connor, The Rifle Book, 3rd Edition, p. 57, Alfred A Knopf (1978).
7. ^'The Bolt Action' Vol 1, Stuart Otteson
8. ^The Bolt Action Vol 1, Stuart Otteson
9. ^ ^abp. 244 Bolt Action Rifles by Frank de Haas, DBI Books INC, Northfield ILL, USA, 1971, ISBN0-695-80220-8
10. ^p244 Bolt Action Rifles by Frank de Haas, DBI Books, Northfield ILL, USA, 1971, ISBN0-695-80220-8
11. ^Lanning, Michael Lee. (1998). Inside the Crosshairs: Snipers in Vietnam. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 59. ISBN978-0-8041-1620-6.
12. ^Canfield, Bruce N. American Rifleman (April 2011) pp.66–85
13. ^Senich, Peter R. (1988). Complete Book of U.S. Sniping. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. p. 288. ISBN978-1-58160-610-2.

• Rule, Roger C., The Rifleman's Rifle, First Edition, Alliance Books Inc., 1982, Northridge, CA, ISBN0-910785-00-7. Second Edition, 1996; Third Edition, Author House, 2009 Bloomington, IN, ISBN978-1-4389-9905-0 (sc).

Winchester Hotchkiss 1st Model Navy Serial Numbers 2017

External links[edit]

Winchester Model 12 Serial Number Lookup