stock finish on early 700s 1962 thru 1964

[54bullseye]

I just purchased a real nice 700 BDL fleur-de-lis checkering - 20" barrel 270 cal. with A L barrel code serial #995xx which is march of 1964 if I did my home work right !!!!! The gun is pretty much as new void of nicks in stock..no scraches on blueing..almost no bolt wear.. floor plate and trigger housing are as new...The only concern i have is this. I know in most rem rifles of that era the stocks were finished with the butt plate on hence varnish or finish is seen on outer edges of butt plate and often chiped off in places from use...I have seen this on 721s-722s-725s and 700s and this rifle has a few small chips but the thing different about this one is the bottom of the butt plate { part that touches you sholder } is mostly covered with varnish like it ran off stock and was never cleaned off ... Has any one seen this before ??? I really don't think the rifle has been refinished in any way due to the over all condition. Also I read in the Lacy book that the finish on the early 700s 1962 to 1964 was changed in late 64 to the harder RK-W finish .. Could this have been because of early finishing procedure ??? Any thoughts would be great !!! Thanks John

[remington600]

I have a collection of every caliber 700 in that time period.. I know exactly the varnish that you are talking about on the side of the aluminum butt plate. BUT the other scenario you speek of I have never seen before. Being a 270 caliber and that condition there is a high possibility that it has been refinished because it was a desirable caliber for hunters and they were bought to use.

Billy Smith

[54bullseye]

Thanks for gettin back to me !!! I have about 12 700s but only 3 that are between 62 and 64 the other 2 have the very same finish but don't have the excess on the butt ... It just dosen't make sence to me why some one would refinish a gun in such good shape! Most always when a stock is ready for refinishing the rest of the gun -barrel-recevier-floor plate and triggerguard would all show signs of wear !! This gun is mint and not reblued and if it is a refinished stock I would like to find the guy who did the color matching and refinish job cause it looks just like the rest of the first generation stocks I have ....Do you know if the early 700s had the same varnish or finish as the 725s ?? I have three 725s but the finish dosen't seem as thick or have the same rich luster as the 700s... Any way I don't like the feeling I have when I'm not quite sure if a gun is 100% correct or been worked on !!! I would really like any other thoughts... Thanks John