Only 6 Pics for a $1.75 Million Price?

[jakhamr81]

Ran across an auction that alleges to be for the first and second Winchester M70s. Does anyone else think it to be a bit fishy that someone is only offering six crappy pics with a $1,750,000?

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/844286252

[jakhamr81]

Originally Posted by Twinson

Isn't the serial number suppose to be on the other side?

Not on 70s. I'm trying to find some discrepancies but it's tough with the lack of pics. #2s bluing looks too good to be 83 years old to me. I've seen rifles that have had their serial numbers ground of and re-engraved so now I'm suspicious of just about everything. I'd like to meet someone that would bid that kind of money blind like this.

[Calif-Steve]

Hard to think Winchester actually ship out serial # 1 to a gunshop. I would think it should have gone into a factory cabinet.

[ZvenoMan]

Anyone seriously interested in this would contact the seller and either get additional photos or setup a visit, or both. And use an escrow, and research......
Just because an auction has 6 photos does not mean all or nothing.

Not my interest, but fascinating story and rifles.

JH

[ESWL]

Early low SN production guns are usually allocated or designated as subscription guns. Subscription guns typically go to high-level collectors, writers or people influential to the company or firearms industry. Ruger had a subscription program where subscribers would receive a low serial number example of every newly released firearm.

Additionally, SN 1 of any new product typically ends up in the company vault or museum, not in a remote country store.

[Jpm]

there's hi-res pics in the auction description. Did nobody scroll down?

[bigwagon]

Originally Posted by ESWL

Early low SN production guns are usually allocated or designated as subscription guns. Subscription guns typically go to high-level collectors, writers or people influential to the company or firearms industry. Ruger had a subscription program where subscribers would receive a low serial number example of every newly released firearm.

Additionally, SN 1 of any new product typically ends up in the company vault or museum, not in a remote country store.

Are you doubting this is the real serial number 1? I'm not vouching for the specific details of the seller's story, but Serial No. 1 Winchester Model 70 was documented to have been in private hands since new. Years ago I remember reading the referenced article in American Rifleman about it.

[smag]

I wonder what happened to M16 and M14 serial # 000001 both were in the old infantry museum at Fort Benning. The big new museum there does not have those two rifles!!!!!!!

Where did they go?

SM~

[karls42]

A 10x Fecker scope on a hunting rifle??

[JimF]

Originally Posted by Jpm

there's hi-res pics in the auction description. Did nobody scroll down?

Yeah . . .I did . . . . .

I noticed in the description, it “led one to believe” that the receiver ring was d&t’d AFTER the rifle left the warehouse . . . . Not so!

ALL M70’s had the RING d&t’d from the get-go . . . . .

It was the BRIDGE that was NOT d&t’d originally.