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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5275
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: Winchester Model 70 Custom African Express - a real sleeper? [Re: buckstix]
#240274 - 07/01/14 11:11 PM

Very nice rifle, buckstix!

I am a big fan of the Model 70 Classic. I think they are hugely underappreciated. For what reason, I don't know. I think Winchester ruined all the good will associated with the Model 70 when they cheapened it in 1964 and later. Then when they restored its glory with the Classic series it was too late. A new generation had no appreciation or nostalgia, so the offering fell on rocky ground.

I have a nice pair of Classic Safari Express rifles in .458 Mag. and .375 Mag. They are well-built, accurate, and pleasing to the eye. I reported on them 4-1/2 years ago at this thread:

Win M70 Classic Safari Express x2

Congratulations on your find. I have not yet had the pleasure to try one of the products of the Winchester custoom shop.

Stay warm!

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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buckstix
.400 member

Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1134
Loc: Whitetail Country

Re: Winchester Model 70 Custom African Express - a real sleeper? [Re: CptCurl]
#240285 - 08/01/14 04:28 AM

Hello CptCurl,

Thank you for the reply,

I read about your 2 Classics at the link above. Very nice rifles, indeed! I agree with you about Winchester missing the boat as far as nostalgia goes. By the time Winchester tried to react to the slumping interest, because they "cheapened" their product, it was too late. We all got old.

I am most pleased to have discovered this African Express Model, and I really like the "looks" of it. I especially like the drop bottom mag and how the wood follows down at the front of the trigger-guard. It really gives it that classic "African" look. The Winchester 416 Rem (bottom) is not quite as neat as my 505 Gibbs, (top) but it comes very close. I still get excited just looking at my Gibbs.

I think the Winchester would look a might better if I bobbed about 3" off the barrel.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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470evans
.333 member

Reged: 30/03/05
Posts: 278
Loc: Texas, USA

Re: Winchester Model 70 Custom African Express - a real sleeper? [Re: buckstix]
#240713 - 16/01/14 10:25 AM

Hello,

I have the Custom African Express in a LH 375. It's a lovely rifle that's very accurate.

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gwh
.333 member

Reged: 28/01/08
Posts: 277
Loc: Cairns Australia

Re: Winchester Model 70 Custom African Express - a real sleeper? [Re: buckstix]
#240732 - 16/01/14 04:41 PM

That 416 is very nice.

--------------------
Hunt hard, shoot straight

"I speak of Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary and the grim"

Theodore Roosevelt, Khartoum, 1910

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buckstix
.400 member

Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1134
Loc: Whitetail Country

Re: Winchester Model 70 Custom African Express - a real sleeper? [Re: gwh]
#241097 - 24/01/14 10:03 AM

Hello gwh,

Thanks for your reply. I had the rifle on display at a local gun show this past weekend. I accidentally left the muzzle overhanging the edge of one of my display cases by about 1/4". When I went to open the display case, it was swept off the table and down to the concrete floor. My heart stopped. A man passing by - "dove" for it, and caught it 6" from the floor. He said "good timing, eh?" I offered to buy him, his family, and all his relations supper, but all he said was; "lucky I came by when I did," and he kept right on walking. Now that's lucky.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5275
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: Winchester Model 70 Custom African Express - a real sleeper? [Re: buckstix]
#241121 - 24/01/14 10:54 PM

Quote:

Hello gwh,

Thanks for your reply. I had the rifle on display at a local gun show this past weekend. I accidentally left the muzzle overhanging the edge of one of my display cases by about 1/4". When I went to open the display case, it was swept off the table and down to the concrete floor. My heart stopped. A man passing by - "dove" for it, and caught it 6" from the floor. He said "good timing, eh?" I offered to buy him, his family, and all his relations supper, but all he said was; "lucky I came by when I did," and he kept right on walking. Now that's lucky.

"Lucky" would be the understatement of the year!

You better keep that rifle and not change a thing. It has a charmed existence.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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buckstix
.400 member

Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1134
Loc: Whitetail Country

Re: Winchester Model 70 Custom African Express - a real sleeper? [Re: CptCurl]
#241734 - 05/02/14 01:06 AM

Hello CptCurl,

Yes, "Lucky" doesn't cover it. The hair on the back of my neck "still" stands-up when I think about watching that rifle slide off the table.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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