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June 28, 2020
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What would be the best way to find a front sight hood for a 1951 model 70 bolt action. I recently was fortunate to purchase the pre-64 rifle from my cousin’s wife. My cousin passed away back in May. It was our grandfather’s rifle. I would like to try to find one that was of that year if possible. I’m not sure what happened to the hood. Thanks for any advice.
January 27, 1992
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Just a point of interest, the sight hoods varied in height and base/slot size. It would vary according to caliber, front sight height and the slot width in the base. Perhaps Louis, our valued Model 70 encyclopedia person, might have the answer for you. Roger B
November 5, 2014
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Roger-
Don’t give me too much credit for knowing trivia… 
According to the 1939 Component Parts catalog the M70 Front Sight Cover was Part No. 3278 for 22 HORNET, 250-3000 SAV, 270 WCF and 30 GOV’T’06. The Front Sight Cover for the M70 in 7M/M was Part No. 3277. I’ve no idea either why the 7M/M part had a different catalog number or what part was supposed to be used on the other four M70 chamberings cataloged at the time. 3277 and 3278 are the only ones listed. The same information is repeated in the 1950 Component Parts catalog even though the 7M/M chambering was last cataloged in 1949.
Moreover, I haven’t (yet) figured out exactly what distinguishes No. 3277 from 3278. Or for that matter 3277/3278 from Part No. A-3276, the front sight cover used on the M92 and M94 carbine barrels with ramps. Rule’s book includes the same information as the Parts Catalogs, but doesn’t describe the difference between 3277 and 3278. Madis’ “Sight Book” makes brief mention of hoods but only says that those for the M70 are all “similar”.
I’m sure somebody out there knows!!!
Anyway… To help the OP with identification, I dug out a couple Front Sight Hoods that came attached to M70s. I cannot swear that any/all are correct, only that they’re all the same dimensions. The photos below are of a somewhat pitted hood from a 1939 rifle, which is at least old, if not original/correct.
Top/Bottom/Side (I apologize for the poor focus):
Overall length (about 1.055″ according to my old non-digital caliper):
Length of the top between the two bevels (about 0.830″):
Height of hood (about 0.607″):
If anybody has any better info, like factory drawings, I’d sure like to know!!! 
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
January 27, 1992
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Thank you Louis. Does the Model 70 carbine (“Short Rifle”) front sight base have the same dimensions as the standard rifle? Roger B.
November 5, 2014
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Hi Roger-
Based on my measurements, YES… Anyone have other info please reply!!!
In pre-war M70s, the 20″, 24″ and 26″ standard contour barrels had the same integral front sight ramp dimensions (more or less) and used the same 0.310″ tall Lyman “31W” front sight. The one exception I know of was the 24″ medium heavy straight taper barrel on early the 375 MAGNUM, which understandably used a lower front sight due to the thicker barrel.
When the Win 103C replaced the Lyman 31W beginning in 1941, it too was initially 0.310″ tall. Once you get into MC stocks and FWT versus standard contour barrels, things got different. But that’s another (long) story… The post 1951 brazed on ramps came in two heights, marked “1” and “2” underneath where it cannot be seen w/o removing the ramp, one for standard and one for FWT barrels. This let the factory use the same 0.360″ tall Win 103C front sight despite the difference in barrel contour.
It’s a long chapter…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
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