I wouldn't guess that a Model 70 was a C&R, is it?

It's a C&R gun PERIOD. Your seller has an irrational fear of the ATF. "When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."

-Victor

Yes, Russ. VA and NY do not honor the BATFE with regard to a C&R being able to receive firearms, and requires any gun which fires currently available ammo to go to an FFL, regardless of year of Mfgr. There may be other states too.

Would like to hear the basis for a pre-64 qualifying as a C&R.

The gun came from Wyoming ,I was looking forward to trying out my newly acquired License and saving a little cash but.........

Referring to ATF Reference Guide, FFR, Page 35, Curio and Relics, Para. (a) "Firearms which were manufactured at least 50 years prior to the current date, but not including replicas thereof."

Jay, what was your interpretation of a C&R qualified weapon?

Typical Fed Regulation; very confusing. I can't tell you what is a C&R but I'm very confident that a pre-64 M70 and a Parker Repro aren't and I'm not about to risk money and my firearms to find out.

"Please note that firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA) may be classified as C&R items, but still may be subject to the provisions of the NFA."

I would argue that a pre-64 is a modern firearm regardless of its age and, as such, does not constitute a curio or relic, as the same firearm is still in production. This really isn't a fight worth fighting and the potential downside is far greater than the upside of being able to ship without an FFL. But hey, I'm sure that some of the money spent on attorneys to argue the point will be well spent by your attorney. on Parkers.

Bottom line: if I were a dealer I would not ship a M70 or a Parker Repro to a C&R license out of prudence. Last thing I want to do is get into a pissing contest with the BATF.

I don't know what is so confusing. At a minimum, a Pre-'64 Model 70 is 52 years old. From a lay person's perspective, it doesn't really look any different than any nice '03 sporter, built in the teens.
NFA firearms are an entirely different kettle of fish, and are regulated to the nines. A Winchester Model 70, regardless off it's year of manufacture, hass never been an NFA firearm.

Model 70 Bolt action rifles may look modern, but they are treated no differently than the model '94 Lever Action, or the Model 12 Pump shotgun. The date of Manufacture is the sole determining factor in BATFE's classification.

The following two pages are taken from the most recent Carol Watson Catalog. Carol Watson is an FFL Licensee, and, additionally, is a California gun dealer. Every gun they sell is clearly identified in their sales catalogs as ANTIQUE, C&R, or MODERN.
Look at item No.187: Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Bolt Action Rifle It is clearly identified as C&R
Look at item 192: Post-64 Winchester Model 70 Bolt Action Rifle It, too is classified as C&R. Why? Read the description, where it says Mfg'd 1965. This auction was two weeks ago. Therefore the gun is 51+ years old. CWOC Auction Company has been around a long time. They have attorneys on staff, and are not about to risk their FFL.
I could pull out page after page, showing Model 12 Pump guns, Model '94 Lever guns, and plenty of others manufactured both older and younger the fifty years, and each gun will be accurately designated.

Sorry about that second page