Dubbed the "Van Orden Sniper", this is a rare, highly sought after variation of the Winchester Model 70 rifle. After World War II, retired Marine Corps Colonel George Van Orden opened the Evaluators Gun shop outside the Quantico Marine base. Van Orden's shop evaluated and sold equipment to police forces and to the military as well as to civilians all over the world. After the Korean War, the company began selling the special ordered Model 70 rifles in his own favorite configuration, which became known as the "Van Orden Sniper". During World War II, then Captain Van Orden and Chief Gunner Calvin Lloyd recommended the use of the Winchester Model 70 rifle with an Unertl 8x scope as a sniper rifle to the Marine Cops Equipment Board President; however, wartime production delays caused the Corps to favor the Springfield Model 1903A1 rifle. Although dubbed the Van Orden Sniper rifle, the specific rifle was never purchased by the Marine Corps. The key features of a Van Orden Sniper rifle such as this example are a stripper-clip slotted receiver, Lyman scope blocks, and a 24 inch heavy target barrel chambered in .30-06 Springfield. This rifle is equipped with Lyman 77R front and 48WH rear peep sights and a standard checkered walnut stock with sling swivels. The rifle shows standard Winchester barrel and receiver markings, including the factory oval proofs. This Van Orden sniper rifle is listed by serial number on page 41 of Norman Chandler's "Death from Afar, Volume 1" as sold to an individual in Silver Spring, Maryland, in May of 1953. Includes original factory matching number box.

Excellent, retaining 95% plus original blue finish with a few light handling marks and some honest handing wear on the bolt handle. Stock is also excellent, with some light handling marks and fine checkering. Mechanically excellent. Box is fine.