This is an excellent example of a pre-war Winchester Model 70 sporting rifle that was made in late 1941 or early 1942 just prior to Winchester cutting off commercial sales after Pearl Harbor. This rifle still retains all it's original prewar configuration parts and was originally fitted with a Stith 'No-Drill' mount that was very popular during this time, which has been fitted with an early Weaver scope, (probably a 2.5 X, 7/8th inch tube). These late prewar rifles are very scarce as most that were sold before Pearl Harbor saw hard use out west and the later ones were put on hold for eventual sale to the US Army or USMC, as substitute rifles. The rifle is fitted with a correct, original Type 1 receiver that is cut for the clip slots with early clover-leaf radius on the end. The left rear side of the receiver is correctly factory drilled and tapped with two mounting holes for a micrometer sight with two factory holes also drilled, tapped and plugged on the front receiver ring only with "NO" scope mounting holes on the rear receiver bridge. The top of the receiver has the correct decorative wavy pattern finish. The receiver has the standard "WINCHESTER/TRADE MARK" markings on the left side of the receiver with Roman type face serial number (41363) with serifs on the right side of the receiver ring. It has the correct square sear clearance hole with a RARE small inspector's mark that consists of a letter "F" (instead of the more common letter "U") directly behind the sear hole. The underside of the receiver has the correct Winchester triangle proof in the recoil lug area with a larger letter "S" heat treat letter proof. It has a scarce early pattern type 3a barrel markings that consist of the three separate marking blocks (as shown on The Rifleman's Rifle, pg. 157) with the hand stamped ".30 GOV'T'06" caliber markings behind that. The underside of the barrel is correctly marked "1906" for 30-06 caliber and dated "41" for the year the barrel was produced, which correctly corresponds to the serial number. Both the left rear section of the barrel and front portion of the receiver have the correct circled "WP" proof. The front of the barrel has the integral type 2a front sight base with the heavy stippled ramp with the original front sight cover. The front leg of the Stith Mount 'No-Drill' mount is installed into the dovetail slot for the rear sight and rear portion of the Stith No-Drill mount is fastened to the left side of the receiver in the two holes intended for the micrometer sight. The mount is fitted with an early pattern Weaver scope that has the early old style rounded scope caps with the standard Weaver markings on the rear portion of the scope tube, with a standard cross-hair reticule. In our opinion, this mount may have been a direct factory installation as the top of the barrel behind the rear sight dovetail and under the front leg of the Stith mount shows no evidence of any blue wear the standard long leaf sporting rear sight typically found on these early rifles. It is also fitted with the original type 1 bolt (serial numbered 41363) on the underside with the solid bolt handle ball with one large and one small gas hole on the underside of the bolt. It also has the original type 1 bolt sleeve that has the flag safety that is marked with an "Arrow" and "FIRE" on top with the later cross pin, (exactly as shown on the lower right hand corner picture, on page 127 of "THE RIFLEMAN'S RIFLE"). It has the original type 1 magazine cover (floor plate) with the square corners with the correct early truncated magazine catch. The rifle is still fitted with it's original and unaltered (NO glass bedding or sanding) NRA style, low comb prewar factory stock with the early "oval" pattern pistol grip with the original checkered pattern pistol grip and forend with the early elliptical sling swivel escutcheon pattern. The rear section of the barrel channel has the early letter "B" proof, as shown on page 149 of "The Rifleman's Rifle". The stock is fitted with the correct Model 70 butt plate and it's Original factory sling swivels with an early Winchester style (although unmarked) commercial leather sling.

Excellent with 97% of the original Winchester late prewar style, black oxide, blue finish on the metal surfaces with only minor edge and high post wear. The bolt retains it's original Winchester factory "In the White" polished finish and as noted has the matching serial number. The reoiled stock is in fine condition with 98% of it's factory varnish showing only very minor handling marks in a couple of areas from light handling use. The checkering is also in excellent condition just showing light wear across the tops of the diamonds from handling. The scope and mount also retain 98% plus of their original finish with crystal clear optics, with a very small dent on the right side of the tube, (that doesn’t effect the function of the scope). These standard prewar Model 70 rifles are some of the hardest variations to find as they saw very heavy use and most were, re-barreled or refinished over the years. Just an outstanding example of an all original and unaltered very late, prewar rifle, probably one of the best we have seen to date.