Refinished Pre-64 Model 70 Winchester Featherweight

[David LaPell]

A friend of my mother's has made me the caretaker of some very fine rifles, including a Model 52 Winchester B sporter from the early 1950's, a Remington Model 12 pump, and a pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight in .308. These guns belonged to the man's father who passed away a few years ago and had not been seen since. The Model 70's finish on the stock was pretty much shot, flaked off on every part of the stock and was exposing bare wood, especially on the buttstock by the recoil pad. I talked to the man about it and asked him about refinishing it and we went over a couple ideas. I told him being refinished would hurt the value some, but the stock in the condition was in was awful. He agreed since it was a hunting rifle and it was not going to ever be sold to go ahead. He didn't like the glossy finish so we went with a nice Tru-Oil finish after I stripped the stock down. I did this about a week before my surgery and it took quite a bit doing it all one handed, but I rigged up a coat hanger to hold it steady so I could get the stripper on it and then smooth out the wood before I put on the Tru-Oil. I did four coats but dulled down the last one a bit with 0000 steel wool. The grain on the stock is exceptional, something the old stain didn't show because of the yellowing and cracking. Now the gun looks like it should. I have also been given permission to use the rifle if I choose so I plan on getting some .308 loads when ever I can get the chance to even bring it to the range one handed if need be. I won't miss a chance to shoot this little gem. It was a true Adirondack woods gun with its Williams receiver sight. The bore is like new and the action typical of the old Winchester bolt actions.


Before (I couldn't have taken enough pics to show how far gone this finish was)

After.....

 

[jeffnles1]

very nice

 

[rugnelli]

Well done.

 

[doccash]

The origional finish makes the gun much more valuable, what ever you do, do not do that to the 52B [it has a real value]. Dr.C :shock:

 

[Tensaw]

Good job! A featherweight with fixed sights. One of my favorites.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

A neat old rifle in my favorite chambering.

 

[Lee Martin]

Nicely done and certainly worth the effort. Those pre-64 Featherweights were classics.

 

[David Bradshaw]

Sold a 1952 Model 70 Featherweight----100% original, with some hunting wear----to build a battery for handgun silhouette. One of the smoothest 70's I've ever stroked. Yet I must confess equalled in smoothness----and surpassed in accuracy----by my early New Haven stainless Model 70 Classic .338 Win Mag.

The Model 70 for years dominated High Power rifle, not just for its rigid receiver, but for the effortless bolt lift in position shooting, particularly rapid fire. That smooth bolt stills comes in sweet for out-of-position repeat shots at running game.

One note on the 1952 M-70 .308: the stock was a piece of straight-grained, old-growth black walnut, dense and inletted so close that pulling the barreled action from the stock made a sucking sound.
David Bradshaw

 

[Lee Martin]

David - recent posts on your 338 Model 70 inspired me to dig out mine (same stainless model as yours). I just re-topped it with a 4 x 12 Weaver and I plan on getting it to the range this Saturday. There's just something about a 70 that hooks you.

 

[Joe S.]

looks AWESOME!!

 

[mr.deerstalker]

your hired, where do i send my stock?
scott