WINCHESTER Safari Express 375H&H M70 (pre 64)

[Johan L]

Middag Manne.

Ek verkoop my 375H&H met gemengde gevoelens. Die rede is juis omdat hy net in my kluis bly staan het die laaste paar jaar. Die geweer is baie netjies en ek het net 1 jag met hom gedoen in die Covid dae..

Geen merke of krappe nie. Hy was maar meestal n "Safe Queen" sy hele lewe. Ek het hom nuut gekoop. Kom klaar met basisse op.

R40 000.

Groete.
Johan 0824184632 Somerset Wes.

[Drenalinjunkie]

Dit is n Model 70. Die Model 70’s kom al n lang pad maar daai is nie n pre 64 nie. Pre 64 verwys dat hy voor 1964 gemaak was.

[Johan L]

Soos ek verstaan was die oorspronklike model controlfeed, soos myne. Op n stadium het Winchester besluit om n push feed te maak (wat ek self al gesien het) om kostes te bespaar. Dit was egter nie goed ontvang nie en daar is toe later besluit om weer terug te gaan na die oorspronklike askie. So alhoewel dit nie voor 1964 vervaardig was nie, word daar nou nog steeds na die controlled feed aksie verwys as die pre 64.

[Johan L]

In 1964, Winchester made major cost-cutting changes to compete with cheaper rifles like the Remington 700:

Switched to a push-feed action (smaller hook extractor; cartridge is pushed into the chamber rather than controlled from the start).
Used stamped parts, pressed checkering, cheaper materials/finishes, and other simplifications.
This led to a big drop in perceived quality, and "pre-64" Model 70s became collector items with a strong premium.

Why the Safari Express Gets the "Pre-64" Label
The modern Model 70 Safari Express (chambered in dangerous-game cartridges like .375 H&H Magnum, .416 Remington Magnum, .458 Winchester Magnum, etc.) was designed as a premium dangerous-game rifle that revives the desirable pre-1964 features. Key specs from Winchester include:

Pre-'64 Style controlled round feed with claw extractor.
Forged steel receiver, often with features like dual recoil lugs, crossbolts, hooded front sight, and a checkered walnut stock.
It brings back the smooth, reliable CRF bolt that pre-64 fans love, making it ideal for safari/big-game use where reliable feeding under stress is critical.

Winchester reintroduced the CRF action in the early 1990s (often called "Classic" models) and has continued it in premium variants like the Safari Express, Super Grade, etc. So when people refer to a Safari Express as "pre-64," they're highlighting that it has the classic pre-1964-style action and features, not that it's an actual vintage rifle from before 1964.
In short: It's marketing and enthusiast shorthand for "this is the good old-school controlled-feed Model 70 action" that collectors revere, updated for modern production. Many shooters consider current high-end CRF Model 70s (including Safari Express) equal to or better than original pre-64s in terms of materials and consistency.