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Is there a book of sorts or other source of information that would tell what scopes, make and model, that came on particular Winchesters from the factory. In other words – I have an older, Bushnell 18mm Japan Scope, 3X-7X Custom .22, with a Rangemaster dial – how could I know if it was ever offered standard or as an option on a Winchester .22 – and that is just an example.
Dan
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Winchester prior to WWII offered factory scoped 22 rifles in 2.75X, 5X and 8X… mounts were marked Winchester. The actual scopes were made under contract by a couple U.S. companies (Saymon-Brown and Carrol) and were only marked with their magnification marking. Winchester did manufacture center fire capable scopes (A5 and B3, B4 and B5) prior to 1928, that’s when they sold the design rights to Lyman. JWA is the go-to guy on this subject and I’m confident he’s going be able to fill in the gaps in my info. FYI: If it says “Japan” you can be pretty confident that didn’t come from the Winchester factory in the US. It may have been purchased (from retail establishment) at the same time & installed when it was new, but that’s about it….
Thanks Ben, that’s a start, I certainly didn’t know that about the “Japan” scenario. Maybe JWA will add to.
Dan
Jeff’s (JWA) book on the Model 69 has a chapter devoted to Winchester scoped 69’s. There were 67’s also scoped from the factory as well as model 75’s… If a Winchester has extra holes on the side of the receiver for a scope mount… they weren’t done at the factory. No factory Weaver side mounts… Another important point of information, if a Winchester was drilled & tapped at the factory for a scope, the Winchester proof mark is “rolled” to the side instead of on top.
Deg,
There were several eras of scopes provided by Winchester. From 1910 to just past 1928 Winchester supplied their own in-house made scopes as a special order feature for any rifle. In 1928 they sold their scope design, tooling and parts to Lyman. From 1929-1937 Winchester would factory mount almost any available U.S. scope as a special order feature to any rifle. Commencing in 1937 Winchester had scopes made by outside sources (Saymon-Brown and Carolyn) to provide Winchester factory-scoped .22 rifles as a standard catalogued item. There were 3 power of scopes (2 3/4, 5 and 8) as well as crosshair and post reticules so the variety of the factory-scoped .22’s is daunting.
I appreciate Ben’s plug for the Model 69 book but it only covered the scopes and bases provided as a factory option for that model. The upcoming book on the Model 75 will also only cover the scope options for that model. A complete book on all the factory catalogued scoped models, plus the special-order scoped models and Winchester bases would be a large book in itself.
Now, having said that, your question is a common one and I have attempted to address it in the Model 75 book. There is a whole chapter devoted to “period correct” scopes from all the major manufacturers on a year by year basis so the reader can determine what is “period correct” for their rifle. It will cover the years from 1938-1961 which were the production years for the Model 75 but eventually I will expand it to include all the years.
Prior to publication of the 75 book in the next few months, if you have a specific example year you would like to know about just let me know and I will tell you the available scope options for that year.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Oh – that is great. So, you write these books? I will certainly check them out, I see a link on your signature.
Dan
Deg said
Oh – that is great. So, you write these books?
I just do the research and gather the material, the books just write themselves after that 🙂
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
What is different about scopes for .22’s than centerfire scopes; and, will a centerfire scope work on a .22?
Dan
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