"We're A Winchester Family": Gillette Couple's Huge Stash Of Pre-64 Winchester Rifles

Cowboy State Daily ^ | Mark Heinz

[Spacetrucker]

Patience and Jarod Blocker are rare for their age. The Gillette couple has a passion for classic pre-64 Winchester Model 70 rifles. Planning for next year's Winchester Arms Collectors Association show in Cody, Patience says, "It's going to be bad-ass."

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Hobbies; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: banglist; campbellcounty; collector; firearms; gillette; guns; history; wyoming

[Spacetrucker]

While not much of an arms collector myself, my father-in-law was an FFL holder for many years, and prided himself on his small collection. Specifically, his pre-64 .270 Winchesters (he had two, to my recollection) among many others. I had the chance to shoot his pre-64 270 on several occasions, and it was indeed a pleasure. He also had a pre-64 30-06 that he rarely used, as he was a fan of the .270 and it's versatility - he always said that it was too much of a gun for white-tail deer. Reading thia article, I was truly impressed with the collection this man has amassed.

[Lurker]

The finest rifle in my safe is a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in .300 Winchester Magnum.

It’s a wonderful gun.

L

[Spacetrucker]

Indeed. I’ve had the occasional opportunity to shoot a .300, but it was a Winchester Magnum. VERY MUCH way more gun than you need for white-tail.

[SkyDancer]

I have a pristine new one. Never fired it.

[Disambiguator]

Is it new-new or old but never used?

Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore likes the new Model 70s. I think they’re made in Portugal.

[real saxophonist]

YOU COULD SHOOT DOWN A PLANE WITH THAT THERE SNIPER RIFLE!!!

/s

[1FreeAmerican]

I had one in ‘71 or ‘72.

I thought it was no big deal then and I sold it for something like $25.

OOPS!

[SkyDancer]

It’s new - keep it oiled and polished.

[BAN-ONE]

I love ‘em.
Beautiful yet rugged enough for extreme use.
Three position safety.
Controlled round feed. (effortlessly feeds and ejects every round perfectly)

[BipolarBob]

The Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody Wy. has the largest Winchester collection in the world. I loved it.

[Mariner]

I had a 1961 Model 70 Featherweight in 3006.

I always thought it was nice.

Then in 2002 I bought a Model 70 Featherweight in 3006.

The new one was a far superior rifle. I sold the 1961 for more than I would have paid for it.

[Disambiguator]

Now you need to take up handloading. There’s nothing like shooting ammo that you made yourself.

😁

[Chainmail]

We Marines had snipers armed with Winchester Model 70s in .30-06 and mounted with Unertl 8X scope in 1967. I spent part of my tour escorting our sniper to his hide position very early in the morning and I covered him with my M-14 while he waited for the enemy to show.
That guy never missed.

[SkyDancer]

I have too many 30-30 rounds. LOL

[Keyhopper]

Yes sir, I’ve been there, AWESOME

[Keyhopper]

Yes sir, I’ve been there, AWESOME

[marktwain]

A man I met in Australia had quite a few pre-64 Winchester super grade.

He offered to allow me to take one in 270 Winchester and one in .375 H&H around Australia to hunt with. Unfortunately, the powers that be in New South Wales would not grant me a permit to travel with the rifles and shoot them. I was not a resident.

He left some gun safes unlocked and some rifles out of the safes when he went to turn off an irrigation pump at one of his farms. The local constabulary showed up and arrested him for having the firearms unsecured. He ultimately had about $200,000 of firearms and accessories confiscated. Many of the rifles had expensive European scopes on them.

[Disambiguator]

Those three words, “too much ammo,” should never be used.

😆

[real saxophonist]

Oh, man, that's terrible.

When I was in DC, I got into a conversation with a guy from Canada. This is a quote from him:

"I have 20 guns. But I don't believe in handguns."

I'm sure everyone in the room saw the gigantic question mark that appeared over my head.

[Texas resident]

Excuse the ignorance but what is the significance of pre 1964?

My dad had a Winchester lever action 30/30 but it was from 1968. I was told that if it was pre 1964, it would be worth something.