When was my 375 H&H Built

[Shootist43]

I purchased a used Win. Mod 70 in 375 H&H Mag off Gunbroker. I am trying to find the correct Warne scope bases for it. I bought a pair for Win. Model 70(s) Post 64 Long and Short Action but they don't fit. I measured the Rear Hole Spacing and it appears to be .440". When I went to Warne's website the only rear bases that fit were for Pre 64 Magnums. The serial number on the rifle is 35CZY07293. Can anyone tell me when my rifle was made?

 

[MT_Fin]

 

[Shootist43]

MT_Fin, thanks for providing that information. I had no idea the rifle was that old. I was thinking it was one of the newer safari models since it is a CRF rifle. Now I feel doubly lucky as I paid under $900 for it. The rifle looks like it has never been used.

 

[TTundra]

May want to really double check that. The model 70 was introduced in 1936....so you'd have a first year rifle. Can you post some pics? Looking at the serial number, I'm thinking it may be the classic express type that came back out as CRF post the push fed era.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

https://www.midwestgunworks.com/winchester-model-70-information.html

 

[cagkt3]

Agree with @TTundra - that does not look like a normal serial number for a pre-64 Model 70

 

[MT_Fin]

MT_Fin, thanks for providing that information. I had no idea the rifle was that old. I was thinking it was one of the newer safari models since it is a CRF rifle. Now I feel doubly lucky as I paid under $900 for it. The rifle looks like it has never been used.

That’s just what I found, though I can’t attest to the accuracy of it.

 

[Shootist43]

I did a web search and found a site where I could type in the serial number and get the year of manufacture. I typed in the letters and numerals and the site said to type in numerals only. When I did that I got 1936 as well. Hopefully I can get some additional confirmation or additional information as to where to look.

 

[TTundra]

@Shootist43 . If you post a few pictures, specifically of the markings on the barrel and of the action, we can get it narrowed down. The sites that generate the dates don't always work the best. Is this a NH gun?

 

[southern_fowler]

it’s not a 36’ model. Per my Madis book The SN for 1936 are 20-2238. Winchester didn’t introduce a letter in to the SN until 1969. Dollar to a donut it’s a new production. I believe the mount for it is the post 64’ express.

 

[Arctic97]

It is NOT a 1936 year of manufacture....my guess would be somewhere closer to 2012 or there about.....

 

[fourfive8]

Agree with Arctic97, that is not a pre-64 and likely not a New Haven gun. The simple G prefix was used for later production M70s, '69-'06, at New Haven until production there ceased in 2006. FN bought Win and the factory moved to Columbia, SC... resuming production in 2008... then again moving production of the M70 to Portugal after that. So it's likely either a Columbia, SC or Portugal gun... depending on barrel marks (if the barrel is original). http://www.winchesterguns.com/support/faq/where-are-winchester-firearms-manufactured.html

 

[Shootist43]

I did some more research and was able to contact Winchester directly. Their Historian wasn't in but a guy in customer service was able to help me out. The rifle was made in 2013 (which is a lot closer to what I suspected.) I also contacted Warne directly. They were able to fix me up with a set of bases that will work. Thanks guys for all the input.

 

[Ray B]

The spacing of M70s, if we consider the screw nearest the muzzle to be #1, then 2,3 &4 moving back; the distance between 1 & 2 is .87" and the distance between 1 & 4 is 5.51". In those rifles that has an un-notched bridge the space between 3 &4 is .87". When the bridge is notched, either to open the action for longer cartridges or the have a charger clip guide, the space for the rear mount is reduced. Some of the rear bridges were drilled at .44" as is the case with the above rifle, most were drilled .33" which was the standard distance of the last magnum actions from New Haven. I haven't followed Winchester rifles since the closure of New Haven so am not familiar with which ones are .87, .44 or .33, but I'd guess that the rear spacing will be one of the three. Although, there are rifles from the pre-war era that were not drilled at the factory and were then drilled by a gunsmith. These rifles could have virtually any spacing- dependent on the bases that were used.

 

[CAustin]

View attachment 275800

Now this is how AH members help each other out!

 

[CAustin]

Everyone chipped in to get to the bottom of the mystery. Good work everyone

 

[Ray B]

One addendum to the sequence. When the Model 70 changed from its original design to the post-64 design serial number were stopped, according to the above chart at 581471, post 64 models started at 700,000; leaving a gap between the two models of about 100,000. then numbering continued in linear fashion until the Gun Control Act 1968 kicked in and each manufacturer needed to have serial numbers specific to a model (prior models had a number that was used on several models, eg a Model 1894, a Model 54, a Model 70 and others could all have a rifle that had serial number 23082). With the GCA each gun had to have a serial number that only it had. Winchesters solution was to add a letter in front of the number, G was specific to Model 70. So they added a G and kept the sequence of numbers in line. The result was that there were potential serial numbers from G1 to G940,000 that were available for use. So when Winchester reintroduced the Pre-64 model, aka Classic Model 70,aka SuperGrade Classic they used serial numbers from this block for those actions. Dates that I am familiar with are G19348 1991; G23596 1993; & G166428 1996. With the sale of the patents, closure of New Haven and off shore movement of production the serial numbers were again changed, which is why the serial numbers have gotten to be quite involved with a combination of letters and numbers.

 

[Arctic97]

One addendum to the sequence. When the Model 70 changed from its original design to the post-64 design serial number were stopped, according to the above chart at 581471, post 64 models started at 700,000; leaving a gap between the two models of about 100,000. then numbering continued in linear fashion until the Gun Control Act 1968 kicked in and each manufacturer needed to have serial numbers specific to a model (prior models had a number that was used on several models, eg a Model 1894, a Model 54, a Model 70 and others could all have a rifle that had serial number 23082). With the GCA each gun had to have a serial number that only it had. Winchesters solution was to add a letter in front of the number, G was specific to Model 70. So they added a G and kept the sequence of numbers in line. The result was that there were potential serial numbers from G1 to G940,000 that were available for use. So when Winchester reintroduced the Pre-64 model, aka Classic Model 70,aka SuperGrade Classic they used serial numbers from this block for those actions. Dates that I am familiar with are G19348 1991; G23596 1993; & G166428 1996. With the sale of the patents, closure of New Haven and off shore movement of production the serial numbers were again changed, which is why the serial numbers have gotten to be quite involved with a combination of letters and numbers.

Well said Ray B. When Winchester re-introduced the Classic CRF again in late 1989 I think it was, they were a super grade custom shop only item for a while and started at serial G1 I believe. I spent some time on the phone with Bruno Pardee the head of their custom shop in late 89 and finally placed my order for one in January 1990. It cost me a $100 deposit to order, and is serial number G10xx. It is the .375 H&H you see in my AH mugshot. I had the barrel cut to 25", matte finish, banded front swivel, Jaeger front sight with pop up night bead. All in it was about $2350 that I really couldn't afford, but I managed to make it happen. Took 10 months to show up, as Winchester went through bankruptcy in the middle of my wait - man I thought I would never get that rifle. My wife still calls it the Phantom to this day, as all she remembers is the money going out and nothing ever coming back. lol Great rifle though....

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Members, reading through this post it is fascinating info, I am still at a lost..please identify this Winchester .375 H&H Magnum MOD 70 Super Grade as a Pre 64 or not??I really would appreciate it very much..Upload photos to assist members

 

[TTundra]

Appears to be a 1956 production model (pre 64). Known as a Type III-3 for modifications made in that years span.