Van Orden Winchester 70 Sniper

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

No, I didn't know them. Next time you talk to Land, quietly ask about that deer he killed with that BP rifle of his. The old boy still has an eye. He has been trying to prove that the team shooters have had a huge influence on the sniper program, and I have been trying to help in my own way. My area of interest is WWI Marine snipers, and I can quickly show the team shooters started and ran that program, and most likely were responsible for the design of the rifle built by Winchester for the program.

Your career sounds like it was a lot of fun, except for that recruiting gig. Know anyone that shoots pigeons?

Jim

[Gus Fisher]

Are you talking about the Mississippi rifle with the repro long scope on it? I only heard the first year he didn't take a shot with it.

I haven't spoken with Jim in a few years since I moved from Mechanicsville down to below the James River. Last time I saw him in person, his son called me shortly before Christmas in I think it was 2007 or 08. It seems his son had taken charge of getting some work done on an M1903 and after months of not getting it done by a few folks, he called me in desperation. He called me on a Friday I think. I told him sure I would work on it. THEN he told me the "problem" was that it had to get done by the next Thursday so his Dad (Jim) could get it back to someone in tme for Christmas. Since it was for Jim and to help save his son from Jim's legendary wrath (Grin), I told him he had best get it down to me quick. Well, we got it done in one day because it was for Jim. His son about fell over when I called him and told him it was done. He told me he couldn't get it that night, but would come down the next night (Tuesday). When he came it was dark and I brought the rifle out to the truck. He was MOST relieved it was done. THEN he told me there was another person to see me. Well, it was so dark I had not realized another person was in the truck. Jim stepped out and threw a bear hug around me.

Back in the early 1980's, Jim bought a damascus double barrel shotgun he wanted to use in gun safety courses to show people what the barrel steel looked like However, the barrels were rusted real bad and you could not see the pattern in the metal. He brought it to the RTE shop and I got called up to do it as I was always the one to work on anything "old." After greeting Jim, I told him, "No Sweat." I took the barrels back to the sandblaster and blasted off the last 6 inches or so of the barrels while Jim hovered over me. He was disappointed because then you can't see the grain pattern. I told him, "Major, I'm not done iwth it yet!" Then I walked into the rebluing room and spread some acid on the surface. We used the acid to "strike" SS sniper barrels before we black oxided them. After the acid ate into the metal a bit, the Damascas pattern stood right out. I stopped the acid with water and Jim reached for the barrel and I told him, "Major, I am not done with it yet." He grinned and chuckled. Then I cold blued that section of the barrel and he tried to reach for it again and I told him. "Major, for crying out loud, I'm not done with it yet, have some patience!" Then I got some 000 steel wool and oil and went over the whole set of barrels for just a few minutes. On the last three inches of the barrel, I rubbed off most of the cold blue, but left some on. Then I wiped the excess oil off and said, " OK, Major, NOW I'm done with it. Now no matter what condition the finish is in of an original gun, folks can see what the damascus pattern looks like either rusted, brown, blued or most of the finish worn off." He looked in wonder and said, "I never would have thought of that." I told him, "Major, you are just out of practice of LISTENING to your Armorer!!" He belly laughed and pounded me on the back.

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Very good story, and I can see the old bear reaching for that gun. I have seen the legendary Land wrath in action, and I would have not wanted to be one of his recruits during his DI days. By the way, I have used that same technique to bring out the twist lines in an old Damascus barrel, but I used a Zischang blue solution (acidic). To some degree, you can use it to bring out a case hardening pattern, but not the colors.

Rumor has it that the old man took a buck at 400 yards with that old BP rifle on his farm. No comment.

Jim

[1903shooter]

Here's the list of Winchester Model 70's that SRS has. Hope it helps.

4610 0302381937 NM
4614 0302381937 NM
4636 0302381937 NM
4711 0302381937 NM
22219MAN 060539USMC - FA AMMO TEST
49880 062636SA .220 SWIFT TEST
49887 062636SA .220 SWIFT TEST
4988754 072836.220 SWIFT TEST
25454170VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
25511870VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
26864470VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
26909870VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
269098NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
26923470VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
26929570VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
269295NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
26949070VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
26970370VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
269703NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
26972270VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
26994070VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27006770VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27028270VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27029970VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27031570VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27082970VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27109270VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27109670VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27137470VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
27295870VOS080354EVALUATORS LTD TO 1954 NM
287041NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
333409NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
333410NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
335227NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
335331NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
335346NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
335350NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
335352NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
336210NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
336243NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
337044NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
338227 052856MDW (MISSING)
338260NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
338794NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
338802NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)
339869NM 102460BUREAU OF SHIPS R&P CLUB (SALE)