Winchester Left Hand Model 70 New Haven Production History

[762 shooter]

My brother is wrong handed and has purchased several left handed CRF New Haven production rifles lately.

Searching on GB, I've seen the Custom Shop Left Hand offers in the $4K-$5K range. We were wondering if all of the left handed Model 70's were custom shop or if they were offered from general production.

We have seen serial numbers ranging all over. I know there was no pre-64 left hand production.

If someone has some first hand knowledge of left hand Model 70 production history I would be very interested.

762

[nekshot]

I wondered the same. I knew they were available years ago but never heard they were custom shop deals.

[pietro]

If someone has some first hand knowledge of left hand Model 70 production history I would be very interested.

AFAIK - LH Model 70's were available in at least 10 different versions over the years.

Left hand Model 70's were introduced in 1997 in the somewhat earlier Classic Sporter, the Classic Sporter BOSS & Classic Sporter Stainless - all on standard production (non-Custom Shop) lines.

The LH option also became available in the Featherweight Classic WSM standard production (non-Custom Shop) line in 2003.



The Custom Shop made LH M-70's in the Classic Custom African & Safari Express (2000-2006 - not in .470 Capstick), Custom Ultimate Classic (1997 intro), Classic Custom Short Action (2001 intro), Custom Extreme Weather (2000-2005) & Extreme Lightweight Weather II (2006) on the Custom Shop production line.



Special Order (individually made) Custom LH Model 70's built to the buyer's specs (within limits) were, of course, always available to the well-heeled through the Custom Shop.


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[lefty o]

they could be had non custom shop. i have 1 i bought it new in the box.

[762 shooter]

I am going to get some of his info with serial #'s and born on dates and post them here. Might pick up a pattern.

762

[snowwolfe]

The seller of those rifles has been trying various methods to get high value for that collection for years. One time they offered the entire collection for one price.
The custom shop would make any model 70 in left hand until they stopped making lefty’s about 8-10 years ago. In the last two years the values of LH model 70’s has been dropping, just like most other guns. I have watched some that sold for close to $2,000 linger on sell sites for $1-1,200.
You could purchase lefty 70’s off the shelf in 270, 7mm mag, 30-06, 300 win mag, 338 win mag, and 375 H&H as well as most of the WSM rounds. For a short period you could buy some chambering in stainless.

[762 shooter]

Left hand Model 70's don't come up on Gunbroker very often. He got a nice 300 Win Mag the other day for $1300.

He's kind of OCDing on left handed Model 70's right now.

Thanks to all for the info. I know more than I did.

762

[winelover]

I purchased a LH SS Classic (regular production) 338 Win Mag, 26 inch sporter barrel. Bought the wife a 243W and a 308W featherweight SS Classic in RH at the same time. Forget what year that was, but they were running @ $500, at the time. My other LH bolt is a Ruger Mark II in 270 Winchester.

Winelover