Thinking of a "Jack O'Connor tribute" Winchester.

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longbranch*

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I'm really interested in getting one of these limited edition model 70's, but pic's from dealers in Canada that have them don't appear to have any better quality wood than average Super-Grade's. Has anyone seen one in person and able to comment? I like the concept, but wondering if a bit of engraving and different checkering is worth the extra $500-600 over a Super-Grade.
 
I never thought you were into the "limited editions". At those prices a Kimber 84L Classic Select with French walnut, or for a bit more a Cooper with a slight wood upgrade looks mighty appealing to me.
 
I bought a 75th aniversary M-70 last spring and quite like. I was in Epps yesterday and took a look at the O'Connor 270. The cost of the O'Connor is the same as the 75th but it is not nearly as nicely finished. The blueing is standard grade that you will find on any featherweight, it is not high lustre. It has a bit of scroll work of a sheeps head etc. on the bottom floor plate, nothing remarkable about it. Jacks signature is on the bottom of the trigger guard in silver, it really does nothing for or against the gun.

The wood is above average, but probably no better grade a wood than on the average super grade. The finish they used is supposed to look like an hand rubbed oil finish, but it definitely is not. It is some sort of a factory sprayed on medium lustre finish which has dried on the woods surface but left the pores of the wood unfilled. Looks cheap and amateurish, not befitting of a gun of this cost. The stock has good lines and design with a shadow line cheek piece and black forend tip. The checkering is fine line of about 22 pts per inch and nicely executed.

The gun feels good in the hand and seems to balance well. The stock design is a little slimmer, and over all the gun seems a little lighter in weight than the super grade and 75th. It feels very much like my featherweight in hand, and the featherweight is $1000. bucks cheaper. My opinion is, it is a nice gun, but definitely not worth the money there wanting for it. I was giving serious thought to having one, but I refuse to pay that kind of money for "Jack O'Connor's" signature on a trigger guard and I stock I would have to strip and refinish before using it.
 
mrgoat said:
I bought a 75th aniversary M-70 last spring and quite like. I was in Epps yesterday and took a look at the O'Connor 270. The cost of the O'Connor is the same as the 75th but it is not nearly as nicely finished. The blueing is standard grade that you will find on any featherweight, it is not high lustre. It has a bit of scroll work of a sheeps head etc. on the bottom floor plate, nothing remarkable about it. Jacks signature is on the bottom of the trigger guard in silver, it really does nothing for or against the gun.

The wood is above average, but probably no better grade a wood than on the average super grade. The finish they used is supposed to look like an hand rubbed oil finish, but it definitely is not. It is some sort of a factory sprayed on medium lustre finish which has dried on the woods surface but left the pores of the wood unfilled. Looks cheap and amateurish, not befitting of a gun of this cost. The stock has good lines and design with a shadow line cheek piece and black forend tip. The checkering is fine line of about 22 pts per inch and nicely executed.

The gun feels good in the hand and seems to balance well. The stock design is a little slimmer, and over all the gun seems a little lighter in weight than the super grade and 75th. It feels very much like my featherweight in hand, and the featherweight is $1000. bucks cheaper. My opinion is, it is a nice gun, but definitely not worth the money there wanting for it. I was giving serious thought to having one, but I refuse to pay that kind of money for "Jack O'Connor's" signature on a trigger guard and I stock I would have to strip and refinish before using it.
Click to expand...
Your first hand account is greatly appreciated. Photo's sometimes aren't worth a thousand words. I really liked the concept. Have always liked O'Connors writing's and have been a fan of model 70's for a long time, so when it was announced at the Shot-show it seemed to good to be true. Guess I won't have to replace my new .270WSM Super-Grade after all.
Since I'd want to hunt with it and not keep as a "safe-queen", I might as well wait for a used one to show up. (probably asking more than new mind you)
Thanks
Geoff
 
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Geoff

Yes, pictures can be deceiving at times. The most disappointing feature of this gun was the overall finish, the metal and stock finishes deserved better than what they gave it for $1798. The pictures on Winchester's site do not show the same look of finish as the one I had in hand. The next fella into Epps may fall in love with one and fetch it home. They make a higher grade called a "Custom Tribute", Epps didn't have any of those models but I can not see them worth $2600. bucks on what I have seen so far. When your getting into that kind of money you might as well go for a something custom made.

I have been partial to M-70's since 1973 when I bought my first one. I use a M-70 featherweight in .243 as my coyote rifle , a very nice, and accurate rifle. Now have the 75th aniversary one which got used for moose and deer hunting this year (blooded on a deer). Also have a Kimber 8400 classic select which is a very nice rifle but will not shoot as accurate as the my M-70's.
My Grandfather was a Jack O'Connor fan, read every book and hung off every word Jack wrote. He probably would have bought one these rifles because it had his name attached to it and I suppose this is where the market will lie for these rifles.
 
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