Winchester Model 70 Serial Number
The Model 70 was produced from 1935 until Winchester closed their Connecticut factory in 2006, with approximately 700,000 Model 70 guns sold prior to 1964. This self-appraisal course deals with all Model 70 Winchester rifles, but focuses on the pre-64 Winchesters, or those guns produced prior to 1964. Does anyone have knowledge of the model 70-222 REM??? Serialed G1340205??? Looks like it was built in 1978 by looking up the serial number. I inherited this rifle and know absolutely nothing about a model 70 as my knowledge of firearms is not extensive and limited to mainly Glock and Colt AR's. Like many Winchesters, Model 70 was available with several extra-cost options that should be evaluated by an expert. Values listed are given for pre-1964 Model 70s, with serial numbers from 1 to 581471.
- Winchester Model 70 Serial Number Date
- Winchester Model 70 Serial Number Age
- Winchester Model 70 Serial Numbers
To the maximum extent possible, the dates of manufacture shown were obtained from the original Winchester Factory Polishing Room serialization records; otherwise estimates were made using multiple sources of information (e.g. George Madis, Ned Schwing, etc.), in which case the data was extrapolated to the best of our ability. This information is no substitute for obtaining a Winchester Factory Letter from the Cody Firearms Museum (available for certain models and serial ranges) which in addition to the Serial Number Application Date, normally provide the original Received In Warehouse Date and Date Shipped from Winchester factory. For purposes of determining if your gun is legally considered an “antique” (pre-1899 DOM), the BATF has told us they use the DOM dates published by the manufacture (Winchester). Those dates coincide with the Madis dates and can be viewed on Winchester’s site at:Winchesterguns.com
If you would like to obtain factory research on your Winchester, we urge you to join WACA and the Cody Firearms Museum. WACA members who are also CFM Members will receive 15 additional record searches on top of the regular quantity of searches included in the standard CFM membership package, regardless of membership level.
FIREARMS INFORMATION
Post 64 Guns :
Gun production methods had changed to thepoint that Olin had to look at just how they made this model as compared to howRemington was making the model 700's. Winchester was making guns the'OLD WAY' using many machines & multiple operations to completeeach part. Remington on the other hand had gained much from WWIIproduction insight by using stamped parts wherever possible and differentdesign methods when they introduced their new model 721 and 722 right afterthe war.
Winchester on the other hand was kind ofstuck with the established, well thought of model 70, which did not lenditself with modernization without suffering dramatic cosmetic changes. Theupper level management at Olin must have thought that they could convince thebuying public that the newer models were just as good. Mechanicallythey were, but just try to convince the older generation that knew what theywanted, not what somebody thought they wanted.
This time frame also sawone of our greatest inflationary periods ever. Increased shortages of goodwalnut for stocks, the rise in cost of steel and other alloymaterials. Raising demands for American skilled labor also was acontributing factor. Many extras that were offered before were droppedfrom the catalogs, probably because they had no one skilled enough to producethe extras.
One author stated that theexisting tooling was wearing out. This may have been so to a point, but mythoughts are that the company needed to cut production costs to survive, sothe R & D crew was given a task. They did an admirable job while yetmaintaining the somewhat resemblance of the predecessor.
Serial numbers were supposed to have started at700,000 when the new model was introduced in1964. However a few have beennoticed at numbers below that established guideline. Many things changed onthis model as compared to just the year before. The most obvious was theimpressed checkering and stock finish. The old Mauser type extractor waseliminated, replaced by a new style smaller unit was moved into the RH bolt lug whereit used a spring loaded plungered system. The ejector was a small springloaded plunger incorporated into the bottom front of the bolt face. There was a striker cap on the rear of the bolt sleeve covering the rear of thefiring pin, serving as a gas deflector.
The sights were made by Williams Gunsight Co. astheir standard replacement sights for gunsmiths that screwed onto thebarrel. The action was lengthened slightly to accommodate the longercartridges. The magazine boxes were stamped which utilized feed rails/lipsinstead of the receiver having to be machined for each cartridge. Thetrigger guard (guard bow as the factory calls it) was made from an aluminumcasting that was painted black. The floorplate was a steel casting that wascopper plated, then black chromed. The barrel used the same threadsas before, but did not keep the coned breech.
The trigger and sear werea casting. The bolt handle was cast, then silver braze welded onto the rear ofthe bolt body. There was no anti bind lug on the middle left side of the boltbody.
After the 1968 Federal gun control law, (put thru congress after JF Kennedy wasassassinated), all the Post 64 guns then carried a 'G' s/n prefix starting at near874,000. This was also the time the 'Anti-Bind' bolt was initiated. Thisnew bolt used a lip on the lower edge of the RH locking lug. The lip rodeunder a part of the receiver rail that help prevent bolt binding.
Over the years since 1964 this model has went thru manycosmetic changes. These ranged from cheaper guns with blind magazinesand walnut stained birch stocks, to Mannlicher stocks, to hard finished walnutwith machine cut checkering. The list goes on which included 11 differentstyles.
The 670 was a blind magazine birch stocked version with a sliding side safety. Next was a 670A, which was basically the same but had the bolt sleeve mounted conventional M 70 pivoting safety. There was then the 770 and 70A which were basically the same same as the 670A except for a walnut stock. The 70A used the same barrel, stamped model 70, so those that did not know, bragged they had a model 70 because that is what it said on the barrel, but did it not have the hinged floorplate of the true model 70.
Serial Numbers for datemanufactured for post-64 guns
| Year | S/N start | S/N end | Quantity |
| 1964 | 700,000 | 757,180 | 57,181 |
| 1965 | 757,181 | 818,500 | 61,320 |
| 1966 | 818,501 | 855,860 | 37,360 |
| 1967 | 855,861 | 873,694 | 17,834 |
| 1968 | G873,695 | G929,990 | 56,296 |
1969 | G929,991 | G965,200 | 35,210 |
| 1970 | G965,201 | G1,000,436 | 43,236 |
| 1971 | G1,000,437 | G1,041,884 | 33,448 |
| 1972 | G1,041,885 | G1,088,291 | 46,407 |
| 1973 | G1,088,292 | G1,130,146 | 41,855 |
| 1974 | G1,130,147 | G1,176,878 | 46,732 |
| 1975 | G1,176,879 | G1,235,041 | 58,163 |
| 1976 | G1,235,042 | G1,298,272 | 63,231 |
| 1977 | G1,298,273 | G1,380,667 | 82,395 |
| 1978 | G1,380,668 | G1,423,869 | 43,202 |
| 1979 | G1,423,870 | G1,450,135 | 26,266 |
| 1980 | G1,450,135 | G1,493,463 | 43,328 |
| 1981 | G1,493,464 | G1,525,323 | 31,860 |
Guns made after 1981 would have been made byUSRA & not shown on this chart
USRAC :
USRAC (United States Repeating Arms Corp.) was formed and continued manufacturing Winchester brand rifles and shotguns under license from Olin Corp.on 7-20-1981. This final year of Olin production saw a new 'XTRFeatherweight'. But very few actually made it to the dealers shelvesbefore USRAC took over. The only way I have been able to discern thedifference is that the thin red/brown rubber Pachmayr buttplate would havebeen the only difference displaying either the name 'Winchester'or 'USRAC'.
Winchester Model 70 Serial Number Date
USRAC, which licenses the Winchester name from Olin Corp., was acquired by the Frenchgovernment owned defense contractor giant GIAT Industries in late 1990.
Many changes were made to the model 70 under USRAC's leadership. They came up with a detachable magazine in about 1989, then changed the magazineagain the next year when they reintroduced the claw type extractor similar tothe pre-64 type. One problem was that they called it the 'pre 64TYPE'. Many not so knowledgeable customers thought it wasindeed a pre 64, as they did not read the word TYPEwhen they needed spare parts. Parts are not interchangeable with the pre 64 guns.
DROP BOX MAGAZINES (DBM) are another confusing issue. The first year production only, DBMs were made for the plunger type extractor and extra magazines are non-existant. After that first year, the claw extractor came into being and the magazine was changed. There are two different magazines, one for the plunger type and the other for the claw type. The physical difference is clearance for the pre 64 type ejector on the left side of the magazine box.
To tell the difference on the shipping box, there is a two letter code, look for a “C” as the second letter, which stands for CLAW. The main visible difference is the follower, the claw type unit has a follower with RH & LH lips extending upward, apparently to force the cartridge rim under the claw extractor. It might be possible to use or modify the claw magazine in the plunger style gun, but NOT the other way around. Also there are NO calibers shown on the shipping box or the magazine itself. Listed below are caliber & codes copied at the time frame these guns were sold for these DBM magazines. You will notice that there is a code system here.
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Box Code | Caliber | Type of Extractor | Box Code | Type of Extractor | Caliber |
A | 223 Rem. | push feed | AC | claw type | 22-250 only |
B | 22-250/243/308 | “ “ “ | BC | “ “ | 243/308 Win |
C | 284 Win | “ “ “ | CC | “ “ | 284 Win |
D | 270/30-06 | “ “ “ | DC | “ “ | 270 / 3006 |
E | 7mm Rem/300 Win | “ “ “ Magnum | EC | 7mm Rem / 300Win |
USRA came out with short action guns to accommodate theshorter 223 or 243 length cartridges. Also here was a Ranger version with birch wood & blind magazine about 1990. This version was made in short action 243 and was toted as a youth or ladies gun. The year later the blind magazine gave away to the hinged floorplate. They also came out with stainlesssteel versions.
In about 1992 the BOSS accurizeing system wasintroduced as an adjustable unit on the muzzle.
A new $15 million plant was opened in October 1994 in New Haven, Conn., the 225,000-square-foot plant house state-of-the-art equipment run by approximately 550 employees.
One bad situation encountered is that now if you needfactory repair, ( bolt or barrel replacement), for a gun made before 1981, theUSRA factory will send the gun back, saying no parts are available. In reality, parts AREthe same as currently used and were available, BUT sinceOlin made that gun and not USRA, the lawyers for the factory have decided thatsince USRA did not make the gun that they will not repair it because ofliability concerns.?????
The above discontinuance of repairs was not limited to themodel 70, as it covers all the other models including the model 94.
As of about mid year 2006, USRA plant in New Haven was shut down.
Winchester Model 70 Serial Number Age
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Originated 05-17-04 Last updated 11-03-20
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