Winchester Model 70 Jack O'Connor Tribute rifle....WOW!
- Thread starter Mystro
- Start date
G-town Hunter
New member
Jack O'connor was once asked after he had retired from writing, if he had to choose one caliber to do everything.. What would it be... His reply was to make no mistake that his favorite caliber was the .270, but if he had to pick one todo everything.... It would be the .30-06.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
Well... I cleaned up my Remy 11-48 & Mossy 500 collections, & videoed them last night, & am going in to deal on that JOC Winchester today... will let you guys know if I get enough in estimated trade in for the shottie collections to be able to afford the Winny 
That is huge news. I would think the dealer would deal because not alot of customers can drop that much coin on one gun. It might play to your advantage. Does your wife know or are you going to casually mention it after the deal is done??? As a happily married man with a large gun collection and expensive hobbies, there are several successful strategies I have employed over the years.
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Magnum Wheel Man
New member
just came back to work, with a lay away slip in my wallet... I got what I wanted for the shottie collections, & only have to pay cash about what an average ( not nice ) bolt action sells for... 
see... big smile
so today, I looked it over better... yes the floor plate is engraved, but black, rather than silver ( sorry... I looked again at those pics, & it was just light reflecting ) like in the previous pics... mine has the rubber recoil pad...
so this is my 1st Winchester Model 70, are these controlled round feed ???
... actually MRS MAG & I talked about it after we left the gunshop the 1st time... she was mad...
... not that I was going to buy the gun, but that I kiddingly acted like I needed her permission in front of the owner & a buddy that was there with us... I'm a very lucky guy, I'm "reasonably" responsible with my money, & the major bread winner, so I can basically buy anything I "really" want to buy, as long as I can actually afford it
I'd best keep her happy though... ( she's a better shot than I am
)
see... big smileso today, I looked it over better... yes the floor plate is engraved, but black, rather than silver ( sorry... I looked again at those pics, & it was just light reflecting ) like in the previous pics... mine has the rubber recoil pad...
so this is my 1st Winchester Model 70, are these controlled round feed ???
... actually MRS MAG & I talked about it after we left the gunshop the 1st time... she was mad...
... not that I was going to buy the gun, but that I kiddingly acted like I needed her permission in front of the owner & a buddy that was there with us... I'm a very lucky guy, I'm "reasonably" responsible with my money, & the major bread winner, so I can basically buy anything I "really" want to buy, as long as I can actually afford itI'd best keep her happy though... ( she's a better shot than I am
)
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Very special congratulation...... Its a big deal, like buying a brand new Rolls Royce.. Your gun has everything including the control feed. The action is butter and will push and extract your shell out as fast or as slow as you want. Its practically silent. Once the newness has wore off, you will feel comfortable shooting and hunting with it. Your not a rookie so you know how not to damage it in the in the field. The French walnut is oil rubbed and extremely hard so it doesn't show marks but even if you fall with it and make a mark, a quick rub of oil will make all scratches disappear. Its made to be hunted with and shot. That was one of the biggest request when this rile was commissioned between the JOC center and Winchester. They didn't want just another glass case trophy gun.
Now set a little bit of money aside for the limited custom case designed for the JOC rifle through the JOC center and Winchester. It is a custom embroidered Boyt case that looks like it came out of JOC safari trip. There is a special redeeming slip you get with your rifle that requires the serial number because everyone of these guns are numbered and accounted for for these cases. Now the optics..... FYI...JOC only used Leupold on his 270.
Its good you play the game with your wife. I do the same thing.
What if she shoots it and falls in love with it......
I keep mine in my office so I can look at it when I am not shooting it.
. Your gun has everything including the control feed. The action is butter and will push and extract your shell out as fast or as slow as you want. Its practically silent. Once the newness has wore off, you will feel comfortable shooting and hunting with it. Your not a rookie so you know how not to damage it in the in the field. The French walnut is oil rubbed and extremely hard so it doesn't show marks but even if you fall with it and make a mark, a quick rub of oil will make all scratches disappear. Its made to be hunted with and shot. That was one of the biggest request when this rile was commissioned between the JOC center and Winchester. They didn't want just another glass case trophy gun.Now set a little bit of money aside for the limited custom case designed for the JOC rifle through the JOC center and Winchester. It is a custom embroidered Boyt case that looks like it came out of JOC safari trip. There is a special redeeming slip you get with your rifle that requires the serial number because everyone of these guns are numbered and accounted for for these cases. Now the optics.....
FYI...JOC only used Leupold on his 270.Its good you play the game with your wife. I do the same thing.
What if she shoots it and falls in love with it......
I keep mine in my office so I can look at it when I am not shooting it.
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Magnum Wheel Man
New member
got any pics of your case ( didn't notice are they in the pics earlier in the thread ??? ) I'll have to do a search & see what they look like...
normally I'm not a big saver of boxes & the like, & now that I have my walk in gun safe room, nearly complete, maybe I can find some other place for the boxes & stuff, but having a rather large collection complicates saving the boxes & such from everything...
in fact, I used to store a couple rifles in hard cases, & last years gun show that I sell at, I sold almost all of my hard cases...
it'll be nice to get rid of those 7 shotguns, that I'd likely never shoot... they take up a lot of space, & I've had to store my 4 muzzleloaders in one of my old gun lockers, outside the gun room... now I'll have room for them on the gun rack in the gun room
normally I'm not a big saver of boxes & the like, & now that I have my walk in gun safe room, nearly complete, maybe I can find some other place for the boxes & stuff, but having a rather large collection complicates saving the boxes & such from everything...
in fact, I used to store a couple rifles in hard cases, & last years gun show that I sell at, I sold almost all of my hard cases...
it'll be nice to get rid of those 7 shotguns, that I'd likely never shoot... they take up a lot of space, & I've had to store my 4 muzzleloaders in one of my old gun lockers, outside the gun room... now I'll have room for them on the gun rack in the gun room
I have not taken any picks of the case but I will. Keep every thing as a collectors item. It matters down the road. The owners manual is custom printed just for this rifle. Even the certificate for the gun case can be copied and used as not to mark up the original voucher. The JOC center recommended copying it as to not break up all the certificates. That says something doesnt it....
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
just spent 10-15 minutes searching the www looking for a picture of the case... lots of references that it won't ship with the rifle ( on the higher grade rifle ) but no pics anywhere???
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
Awesome... thanks...
... & right now I'm looking through 4.5-14X Vari X 3's in the $500-$700 dollar range
unfortunately, I'm in a big scope buying mode, so the rifle on lay away is pretty far down the list... I can maybe move it up to 4th on the list... I still don't have a scope on my Remy 100th anniversary 700 yet... I'm thinking a silver Nikon Pro Staff 5 in 3.5 - 14X for that gun, since it's fluted, jeweled & engraved stainless with the nice wood & Ebony stock...
the JOC rifle is going to look so nice on the wall just above the Remy ( smaller calibers on top... not playing favorites )
BTW... I think this is the most expensive rifle I've ever bought
... & right now I'm looking through 4.5-14X Vari X 3's in the $500-$700 dollar range
unfortunately, I'm in a big scope buying mode, so the rifle on lay away is pretty far down the list... I can maybe move it up to 4th on the list... I still don't have a scope on my Remy 100th anniversary 700 yet... I'm thinking a silver Nikon Pro Staff 5 in 3.5 - 14X for that gun, since it's fluted, jeweled & engraved stainless with the nice wood & Ebony stock...
the JOC rifle is going to look so nice on the wall just above the Remy
( smaller calibers on top... not playing favorites )BTW... I think this is the most expensive rifle I've ever bought
Oh man, what a great thread! Mystro, thanks for taking the time to post such great photos and give background info. I never read any of O-Connor's books or articles but no one can dispute the Win M70 Featherweight in .270 is a fine hunting rifle for North America game and classic.
I was raised on the .30-06 and normally would not consider an "almost the same" caliber, but dang this is quite an opportunity. This rifle would make it worth adding a .270. That seems to me like a very good price for custom shop work, and a one time collector item. Glad you will be taking this to the field.
Magnum, if you want to be nice to your wife and she sews, there are some good sewing machines in the $3k-$6k price range. My wife loves her Baby Lock. New guns are referred to as 1/3 the price of your sewing machine...
I wonder if I could get my S&W M29 4" embellished by their custom shop as a Keith tribute to go with this O'Connor tribute? That would be quite a hunting combo!
I was raised on the .30-06 and normally would not consider an "almost the same" caliber, but dang this is quite an opportunity. This rifle would make it worth adding a .270. That seems to me like a very good price for custom shop work, and a one time collector item. Glad you will be taking this to the field.
Magnum, if you want to be nice to your wife and she sews, there are some good sewing machines in the $3k-$6k price range. My wife loves her Baby Lock.
New guns are referred to as 1/3 the price of your sewing machine...I wonder if I could get my S&W M29 4" embellished by their custom shop as a Keith tribute to go with this O'Connor tribute? That would be quite a hunting combo!
Thank you, JOC talks about the 270,280,30-06 almost universally calling them the 3 sisters. My father-in law is a 06 guy but he even admitted that JOC rifle in any other caliber is just wrong. The rifle is the star with the caliber of 270 second. If JOC was a die hard 30-06 or 280 shooter and it was his pet caliber instead of the 270, I would buy the Tribute rifle in that caliber without second thought.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
PILGRIM... MRS has 5 sewing machines, including a quilting table...
her favorite wasn't the most expensive... but...
this is what it looked like before the local custom painter painted roses & her name on it
Fully reconditioned, custom, 1949 Singer Feather Weight, that she takes to all the quilt retreats, because it's so light
her favorite wasn't the most expensive... but...
this is what it looked like before the local custom painter painted roses & her name on it
Fully reconditioned, custom, 1949 Singer Feather Weight, that she takes to all the quilt retreats, because it's so light
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Mystro, i am curious about the photo of your gun case. I have family in Idaho and there is a "Lewiston" on the border with Washington. And from what I have read Jack was from the Lewiston area. But the gun case stencil appears to say "Lewision". Is that just the photo or is the stencil actually wrong? Does that make it even more collectible like a double strike coin or three legged buffalo nickel?
BTW, I have an uncle who lived in Salmon, ID at the same time as Keith and he did not like the man at all. I loved reading Keith's articles and books, but never met him in person, perhaps for the better?
Anyway, congrats to you and Magnum on your fine rifles. I am going to look around for one myself.
BTW, I have an uncle who lived in Salmon, ID at the same time as Keith and he did not like the man at all. I loved reading Keith's articles and books, but never met him in person, perhaps for the better?
Anyway, congrats to you and Magnum on your fine rifles. I am going to look around for one myself.
Jack O'connor gun case
Good catch.........I called the JOC Center about that and a few slipped through that were misspelled. Lewision instead of Lewiston. The very first few were misspelled and went out with the first few rifles. They were very willing to send me another one but I think it might be significantly more of a collectors item. In the gun world, these slip ups can be worth big bucks down the road.
Good catch.....
....I called the JOC Center about that and a few slipped through that were misspelled. Lewision instead of Lewiston. The very first few were misspelled and went out with the first few rifles. They were very willing to send me another one but I think it might be significantly more of a collectors item. In the gun world, these slip ups can be worth big bucks down the road. 
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Magnum Wheel Man
New member
is the case serialed the same as the rifle, or some other way to verify it down the road when you have a rarer variant of something that is already rare???
They are not serial numbered but can only be accessed to from the JOC Center with the verification of the rifles serial number. They are not and will not be available for purchase to the general public.
I like the coin analogy above, the misspelled case were only on the first few. Thats going to make it pretty recognizable and set a time line.
We gun enthusiast are always looking for the rarest of rare apparently. I have seen this in the knife world and they always demand a premium. It seems insignificant but I have a feeling its going to matter especially that it has been documented by the JOC Center. Who knows,....just one more distinct personality and story to the JOC Tribute Rifle.
I like the coin analogy above, the misspelled case were only on the first few.
Thats going to make it pretty recognizable and set a time line.We gun enthusiast are always looking for the rarest of rare apparently. I have seen this in the knife world and they always demand a premium. It seems insignificant but I have a feeling its going to matter especially that it has been documented by the JOC Center. Who knows,....just one more distinct personality and story to the JOC Tribute Rifle.
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