The Tale of a Fine Model 70

IronNoggin said:
Back in early 1951, a strapping young lad of sixteen years wandered into the local gun shop. He was carrying all the coin he had saved up through the last two years, and the proceeds of selling his Winchester Model 94 (30-30) he had let go to a buddy that same spring.

The fellow was great at school, the local State Champion high school teams’ Defensive Tackle, but mostly an avid Outdoorsman. He excelled at fishing, camping, shooting & hunting. And he knew exactly what he was looking for. Due to guidance from another Jack who shared his name, he would not settle for anything less than a current Model 70, chambered in the venerable 270 Winchester, and topped with a Weaver scope. He had made his ambitions known to the store owner, and the rifle in question had been waiting for his arrival for over a month.

When it was all said and done, he shelled out the sum of $ 125.00 for the complete combination including a decent amount of factory shells to go along with it. Within the year, he added a reloading kit and jumped right into that fascination with a frenzy.

Over the next three decades the fellow took an amazing amount of game with that rifle, feeding friends and family alike. He was known for not only his excellent shooting skills, but also the speed at which he employed them. Needless to say, those in his circle never wanted for meat! He was also well known for his accomplishments regarding both target shooting and competitions with that rifle.

Close to 30 years after he bought it, he had shot that rifle so much that the barrel wore out. By this time the fellow had married a fine Outdoors Woman who hunted and shot alongside him constantly. Their arsenal had increased greatly, including two more pre ’64 Model 70’s in 30-06 and 300 H&H, and a Custom Mauser 270 for the Lady. So when the time came in 1980 to re-barrel his original, he decided to do something different with it.

Contacting Mr. Paulson – a custom stock specialist from Chinook, Montana, he decided to wander over for a look and peruse the stock blanks on hand. After some careful deliberation, he settled on an extremely beautiful blank of Bastogne Walnut. He paid $ 500.00 for the blank which was considered something of a deal at the time. A description of that type of stock follows:

Bastogne walnut is a type of hybrid walnut, specifically a cross between Claro and English walnut. It's known for its attractive appearance, often exhibiting a rich color and high fiddleback figure. This wood is prized for its strength and density, making it suitable for rifle stocks, particularly for large caliber rifles.

Here's a more detailed look at Bastogne walnut:

Hybrid Nature:

Bastogne walnut is a hybrid, meaning it's a cross between two different walnut varieties: Claro walnut and English walnut.

Appearance:

It's characterized by a mix of colors and can have a vibrant, rich tone, similar to Claro walnut, along with dark, contrasting grains, similar to English walnut. It also frequently features a prominent "fiddleback" figure, which is a vertical stripe pattern that adds to its unique look.

Density and Strength:

Bastogne walnut is known for its high density and strength, making it a good choice for gunstocks that need to withstand recoil, particularly for rifles with larger calibers.

Use in Gunstocks:

It's a favorite among custom rifle makers, especially for magnum caliber rifles. It's suitable for all calibers and types of rifles.

Figuring:

The "fiddleback" figure, where vertical stripes or ridges run along the grain, is a hallmark of Bastogne walnut, adding to its aesthetic appeal.

Availability:

Bastogne walnut is a bit rarer than some other types of walnut, and its availability can vary.

After getting back home, he contacted the renowned gunsmith Fred Speiser of Missoula, Montana. Fred was very well known for the quality of his work, and he discussed in detail what the fellow wanted from him. Shortly after that Fred ordered in a custom barrel chambered in 25-06 Remington. Over the next few weeks Fred threw himself to the task at hand, fashioning the stock, fitting the barrel, truing the action and more. At a cost of $ 500.00 he turned out an absolute masterpiece that startled the eye. It wasn’t only the eye that it startled, for his excellent efforts produced a true “Shooter” more than capable of sub minute of angle groupings if and when the shooter did his part well.

Over the next few years, that newly transformed Model 70 well proved its worth in both field and range. It easily produced a great many fine meals, and never failed to excel on targets.

The excellent shape of this fine rifle is a testament to the love and care its owner expressed towards it. Today I would note it as in Condition Super Grade. Marvelous beyond compare.

I am proud to call the fellow involved in this tale Dad. And also proud to call him Friend. He passed along to me many of the values you can draw from this rifle’s tale, along with a sincere love of all things outdoor related.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the great story, Iron. I know what it means to have "Dad's old guns".
 
Awesome story! I know when you're brother, Mark and I worked in Law enforcement, he had a 270 winchester. I witnessed Mark make a free-hand shot at 200 yards on a running buck. Nailed him stone dead! Markmenship must run in the family. I also remember you're mom shooting a big mule deer buck. Was it with a 270 Winchester?

I never had a go-to rifle or cartridge however, my custom 270 Winchester is one of my favorites.

Here is Mark and I in 1989, with his free-hand 200 yard running buck. I'm holding his rifle.
 

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track said:
Awesome story! I know when you're brother Mark and I worked in Law enforcement, he had a 270 winchester. I witnessed Mark make a free-hand shot at 200 yards on a running buck. Nailed him stone dead! Markmenship must run in the family. I also remember you're mom shooting a big mule deer buck. Was it with a 270 Winchester?
Click to expand...

Small World!!

Dad & Mom raised us up as they were, VERY outdoors oriented. That of course included hunting and shooting.
From that I'd hazard a guess that is likely why most of our Family are a tad more than passingly familiar with both.

Mom shot her big Mulie with the Custom Mauser mentioned above - in 270 Winchester.
It is still the largest non-typical Mulie ever taken in Canada by a woman.

VrteHeW.jpeg


sCiDYjZ.jpeg


She has numerous other trophies, including Antelope, Whitetails and Elk.

I say Hi to Mark for you when we next chat...

Cheers,
Nog
 
IronNoggin said:
Small World!!

Dad & Mom raised us up as they were, VERY outdoors oriented. That of course included hunting and shooting.
From that I'd hazard a guess that is likely why most of our Family are a tad more than passingly familiar with both.

Mom shot her big Mulie with the Custom Mauser mentioned above - in 270 Winchester.
It is still the largest non-typical Mulie ever taken in Canada by a woman.

VrteHeW.jpeg


sCiDYjZ.jpeg


She has numerous other trophies, including Antelope, Whitetails and Elk.

I say Hi to Mark for you when we next chat...

Cheers,
Nog
Click to expand...
I love it! Great buck!
 
The checkering is absolutely gorgeous, as well as the wood, just amazing rifle!
I'm disulusioned with what company put out for wood stocked rifles these days😔
Your Dad is true gunnut! Who understands what it is to walk through the forest with a gun that talks to him!
Your lucky to have such a father😉
Cheers my friend, Dale Z
 
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