Re: USMC Winchester M70 ?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sandwarrior</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 168BTHPM</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">The original purchase of Model 70's by the Marine Corps. was in May of 1942. They purchased all of the standard weight barreled rifles Winchester had in stock, I think it was around 375 or so.</span> I have a copy of the purchase letter from the National Archives but can't put my hands on it right this second.
I used to own serial number 46987, it has a standard weight barrel, original sporting stock and was equipped with a Weaver M73B1 scope in an ML Stith mount. The stock had the crossed cannon ordnance wheel on the right side of the butt, and two inspector markings in front of the floorplate. I purchased this rifle at a gun show in Havre Montana for $660 many years ago, and sold it about 10 years ago which I regret to this day.
The Marine Corps. museum at Quantico has several rifles within 5 numbers of the serial number I used to own. One still has the standard weight barrel, the others have had the barrels changed over the years.</div></div>
I'm a little confused on the purchase of Winchester rifles. It was my understanding that Winchester went to the military and offered to produce precision rifles for the military and were refused. Is the purchase you are talking about, one made for Rec services which was destined to be 'appropriated' by the Marine Corps for such purpose? </div></div>
The purchase in May 1942 was an emergency purchase to evaluate the model 70 for sniper purposes. They purchased the standard weight rifles in the standard military caliber, .30 GOV'T 06. It was not a part of anything proposed by Winchester, I read in one of my old American Rifleman magazines Winchester was reprimanded by the government for continuing to make commercial guns and not getting on board the war effort early enough. I have looked for my copy of the letter but can't put my hands on it. The purchase in 1942 is also documented in one of Senich's books but I don't remember which. When I discussed this with one of the staff at the museum at Quantico he said a lot of the original purchase never saw use in combat, they were "evaluated" and many were "brown bagged" because they are fantastic hunting rifles.
When I find my copy of the original purchase letter I will scan it and post it here. I received a copy by sending a request to the National Archives, it took about 2 months to get the copy of the letter.