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December 19, 2025
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HI all,
Recently picked up a nice condition model 75 Sporting .
I’m perplexed by the front sight.
Its a Lyman 77r.
I’m fairly certain these where not an option on the Sporting models.
As such I bartered a better price.
It has a Lyman 57ES rear sight and a dovetail slot blank filler on the barrel .
The stock appears to have a factory cutout for the Lyman 57ES.
The barrel dates the rifle to 1955 and it has the grooved reciever for mounting a scope.
Did these ever come with a Lyman 77r and if not how does this affect value?
Sorry I can’t post pictures here as I am not yet a full member .
But plan to be as my number of vintage Winchesters is increasing.
June 1, 2023
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Your Winchester Model 75 Sporting rifle would have come originally with a Winchester 103B front sight, and the Lyman 77 is a later addition. I don’t believe that adversely affects the value, as the Lyman 77 is a much used and much sought after sight that can easily be sold. The Winchester 103B is a fairly simple bead front sight and finding one would not probably be very difficult.
BRP
July 17, 2012
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I would love to see a picture as the 75 Sporting rifle has a front ramp with elevated dovetail for the 103B, a Lyman 77 mounted on the ramp would make for an extremely tall and ungraceful-looking front sight.
If it is easier, you can email your pictures to me and I can post them here for you. Abendshien at AOL dot com.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
December 19, 2025
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Thanks JWA.
I will send some pics out to you tomorrow.
You’re right,
Its rather ungainly looking but the line of sight is quite comfortable for me from an off-hand position.
I don’t think it can be retrofitted to the original front sight as the Lyman is fitted to a scope block type mount screwed into the barrel.
It appears to be the correct mounting block for the 77r.
August 14, 2021
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I would think any modification involving screws with additional tapping would be detrimental to value somewhat.
July 17, 2012
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Here are 427 Hemi’s photos, it is a VERY interesting rifle!
The barrel length is correct for a Model 75 Sporting and there is no evidence of a front ramp ever installed.
The barrel is dated 1955 which puts it at the beginning of the change for the 75 Target which eliminated the front dovetail and added a block like the one shown on the OP’s 75 Sporting rifle.
Based on the photos it appears as if the rifle came from Winchester as equipped although a personal inspection may reveal otherwise.
Note: The barrel should be .55″ at the muzzle.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
June 1, 2023
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Please correct me if I’m wrong, but by 1955 the front sight base on the 75 Sporting rifle was brazed on, and could be removed fairly easily with MAP gas. Then it would a simple operation to polish and re-blue the barrel, adding the drilled and tapped holes. Like the old saying goes, when you hear hoof beats, it’s probably horses and not zebras — in other words, the simplest explanation is often the correct one. I will leave it to each collector to decide what the simplest explanation in this case would be.
While someone might have special ordered this rifle, why would they go to the bother? I don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade, but that’s how I see it.
BRP
July 17, 2012
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BRP,
You are correct on all counts.
The litmus test is very simple, if the barrel has been re-blued then it is likely the front sight ramp was removed. If the barrel has not been re-blued then it probably never had a ramp installed as there is no evidence of it.
And I agree, I can’t think of a good reason to have a Lyman 77 on a Sporting rifle so I can offer no explanation why someone would either special-order it or, conversely, go to the trouble of removing the front ramp and refinish the rifle simply to install a base for it.
It remains a mystery.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
August 14, 2021
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Unless it’s oil there appears to be a difference in the finish right at the sight rear. I drew an arrow.
June 1, 2023
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Good eye, Steven.
Also looking closely at an enlargement of the muzzle area on this rifle (photo #5), I see what appears to me to be sanding marks directly below the Lyman 77 sight.
BRP
December 19, 2025
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Wouldn’t a soldered or brazed on ramp have been a little further back from the muzzle and therefore one would see evidence of it behind the current Lyman?
In person no shade difference in bluing at the site base.
Just lighting and oil.
Rifle to me does not appear to be reblued.
But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been.
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