Let's see if this works... I've attached a composite .pdf file of some better quality photos of the Van Orden Sniper rifle (S/N 351439) sold on Rock Island Auctions May 3rd. I took a lot of photos of which these are a few. I am posting them in hope that members of this forum who have first hand knowledge of the Van Orden rifles will be willing to comment about this particular rifle. Having had it out of the stock, my observations are:
BARRELED ACTION: The action is standard mid-1950's Model 70 "Heavy Weight Target" (Catalog No. G7044C). Clip slotted receiver (standard on all 30-06 M70 target models from 1937-1963), factory drilled & tapped on top of receiver/bridge and left rear (for receiver sight). The barrel is 24" medium heavy contour, under chamber barrel date stamp '30-06 55' (for 1955 manufacture of the barrel), standard exposed roll markings. This one has what Roger Rule refers to as a "second variation" target barrel, as it has a 3/8" dovetail at the muzzle to accept the front sight mounting block (as opposed to the two 6-48 holes that defined the "third variation" target barrel). There is no provision on the underside of the barrel to accept a fore end stock screw (I've yet to encounter a Model 70 Target Model that was dovetailed on the underside - this one is no exception).
SIGHTS: Lyman 77 globe front sight, Lyman 48WH receiver sight, Lyman-type telescope sight blocks on barrel and receiver ring.
STOCK: The original literature that accompanied these rifles from Evaluators Ltd (shown p. 101 of Senich's "The One-Round War) described the stock as "dense walnut 4-position Sniper Stock with length of pull, drop and pitch approximating that of the U.S. Rifle cal 30 M1903A1; stock smooth finished and drenched to saturation with linseed oil, without checkering or lacquer". The stock dimensions on S/N 351439 seem to match the M1903A1 type 'C' stock pretty well: LOP 13.0" (M70 standard stocks were 13.5"), drop at heel about 1.4" (M70 stocks were closer to 2.5"), butt angle about 90 degrees (greater than the M70 standard stock). The butt plate is M70 standard rifle checkered steel with protrusion at top inlet into the stock. The stock is of course uncheckered and has an oil finish. 1 1/4" standard Winchester sling swivels. The fore end dimensions look pretty close to M70 Standard rifle. There is a provision for the fore end barrel screw in the stock (like the Standard rifle stocks), which on the Van Orden rifle is filled by a shortened stock screw with an inset escutcheon in the barrel channel (as the barrel is not dovetailed to accept a fore end screw).
The only thing that seems 'non-factory' to me is that the barrel channel is mostly free floated (enough to easily pass a dollar bill) except for the last couple of inches at the muzzle end. I'm not aware that the Winchester factory ever 'free floated' anything prior to 1963. On the other hand, the Evaluators limited literature indicates that these rifles were match tuned at the shop prior to sale and "warranted ready as received for competition without further modification other than the determination of the user's zero."
If anybody has any knowledge of what work was done on the Van Orden rifles at Evaluators Ltd, I would love to know.
Thanks
BARRELED ACTION: The action is standard mid-1950's Model 70 "Heavy Weight Target" (Catalog No. G7044C). Clip slotted receiver (standard on all 30-06 M70 target models from 1937-1963), factory drilled & tapped on top of receiver/bridge and left rear (for receiver sight). The barrel is 24" medium heavy contour, under chamber barrel date stamp '30-06 55' (for 1955 manufacture of the barrel), standard exposed roll markings. This one has what Roger Rule refers to as a "second variation" target barrel, as it has a 3/8" dovetail at the muzzle to accept the front sight mounting block (as opposed to the two 6-48 holes that defined the "third variation" target barrel). There is no provision on the underside of the barrel to accept a fore end stock screw (I've yet to encounter a Model 70 Target Model that was dovetailed on the underside - this one is no exception).
SIGHTS: Lyman 77 globe front sight, Lyman 48WH receiver sight, Lyman-type telescope sight blocks on barrel and receiver ring.
STOCK: The original literature that accompanied these rifles from Evaluators Ltd (shown p. 101 of Senich's "The One-Round War) described the stock as "dense walnut 4-position Sniper Stock with length of pull, drop and pitch approximating that of the U.S. Rifle cal 30 M1903A1; stock smooth finished and drenched to saturation with linseed oil, without checkering or lacquer". The stock dimensions on S/N 351439 seem to match the M1903A1 type 'C' stock pretty well: LOP 13.0" (M70 standard stocks were 13.5"), drop at heel about 1.4" (M70 stocks were closer to 2.5"), butt angle about 90 degrees (greater than the M70 standard stock). The butt plate is M70 standard rifle checkered steel with protrusion at top inlet into the stock. The stock is of course uncheckered and has an oil finish. 1 1/4" standard Winchester sling swivels. The fore end dimensions look pretty close to M70 Standard rifle. There is a provision for the fore end barrel screw in the stock (like the Standard rifle stocks), which on the Van Orden rifle is filled by a shortened stock screw with an inset escutcheon in the barrel channel (as the barrel is not dovetailed to accept a fore end screw).
The only thing that seems 'non-factory' to me is that the barrel channel is mostly free floated (enough to easily pass a dollar bill) except for the last couple of inches at the muzzle end. I'm not aware that the Winchester factory ever 'free floated' anything prior to 1963. On the other hand, the Evaluators limited literature indicates that these rifles were match tuned at the shop prior to sale and "warranted ready as received for competition without further modification other than the determination of the user's zero."
If anybody has any knowledge of what work was done on the Van Orden rifles at Evaluators Ltd, I would love to know.
Thanks
