I'll try to make a long story short. My favorite person on the planet was my uncle Larry. He worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife and took me to do all kinds of cool stuff as a kid. The only gun he ever hunted with was a Winchester Pre-64 model 70 .264 win mag featherweight that my grandad bought him for Christmas in 1962 (he was my blood aunt's husband and my Grandad skipped buying all his own kids presents that year to buy this) He had terrible heart genetics and passed 15 years ago then my aunt passed from cancer. My cousin ended up with his gun and her husband and son googled what it was and saw it was worth $$ so I figured I'd never have a chance to own it. A few years ago I mentioned to her I'd love to take it and clean it up good, build some ammo for it and shoot a deer, then I'd give it back with some ammo for them to shoot it. 8 months ago she brought it to me and I told her I'd get it back to her after deer season and she said, "oh no, I want you to have it." Could've knocked me over with a feather. I cleaned it up good, adjusted the trigger, floated the barrel, and put a correct looking for the gun swaro on it and shot it for the firsts time today. Got in the deer stand and 30 minutes later got this deer. I've shot much bigger but none mean as much as this one. The leather sling broke on way back to the truck and I was disappointed. His middle name was Alpheus and that is mine too, so I'm going to get a custom sling made with Alpheus on it. I know this is just stuff and I don't have to have it to have the memories, but I'm sure glad to have it.
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My uncles Model 70
- Thread starter Lowhighlander
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slikmrc
Well-Known Member
Great story, and great rifle!! That is some nice wood on the rifle. Enjoy
Awesome. You're right stuff is just stuff but it is nice to pass along family heirlooms. And to remember them.
My older brother passed away from cancer at the age of 20 when I was 18.
He bought a marlin 782 in 22 mag my ex stole it and her retarded son broke his fishing pole that was a Christmas gift that he used in Idaho when I was 5 or so. I'd sell every one of my firearms and fishing equipment to have those 2 items back.
I've also had a cousin take everything of my grandmother when she passed with out ever asking me or my other brother if we would like some of the family photos. Especially from WW2 in Cologne Germany of my father and such.
My older brother passed away from cancer at the age of 20 when I was 18.
He bought a marlin 782 in 22 mag my ex stole it and her retarded son broke his fishing pole that was a Christmas gift that he used in Idaho when I was 5 or so. I'd sell every one of my firearms and fishing equipment to have those 2 items back.
I've also had a cousin take everything of my grandmother when she passed with out ever asking me or my other brother if we would like some of the family photos. Especially from WW2 in Cologne Germany of my father and such.
Kicks like a mule being a featherweight and the recoil pad being 50+ years old is hard as a rock but I'm gonna tough it out
waspocrew
Well-Known Member
Very cool story. Beautiful rifle and buck!
crashlanding
Well-Known Member
Very cool story, I have a love affair going on with family guns I'm the caretaker of now.
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
Looks like that pre 64 was taken pretty good care of , congrats
ranch manager
Member
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- Oct 29, 2010
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That is a beautiful rifle, what a hunting rifle was and should be. I really appreciate the lines of how rifles once were.
BillLarson
Well-Known Member
Hellava rifle...... devastating killer.....
That's a beauty!! From the days when very functional rifles looked like "works of art ".
RD57
Well-Known Member
Nice to see the rifle stayed in the family, ending up in caring hands and is getting put to good use. Don't neglect those aging senior citizens in the gun safe!
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I've been shooting my dad's '61 model 70 264wm since I was 11. Don't think I was even 4' tall at the time? I still have it as he passed 10 years ago. He bought it after graduating hs since '61. He told me he didn't like the recoil of the 264wm so he bought a 270win (not sure the year, but probably '61-'63). Also said he didn't shoot a full box of ammo, so at 11 I had a practically new gun. I don't know if many the have a pre64 like we do. Hope you get to enjoy it and the memories!Kicks like a mule being a featherweight and the recoil pad being 50+ years old is hard as a rock but I'm gonna tough it out
Outstanding.
That's is a rifleman's rifle and chambered in an excellent cartridge.
That's is a rifleman's rifle and chambered in an excellent cartridge.
freefloater59
Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing, a great story! I have exactly the same Featherweight version inherited from my father in 1987. It was his go-to for mule deer and antelope has taken many over the years. I haven't shot it in a long time. I did the same renovation with his Mauser 243 he built in 1960 (his first build...). New stock, trigger, Leo scope. and a ~.650 group the first time at the range with his circa 1970's handloads. The 264 currently sports an early B&L 6x fixed using B&L adjustable bases! I absolutely love the feel and balance of the Pre'64 Featherweight and look forward to spending more time with it soon.
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