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Bert,
I recently acquired serial #459 deluxe with 24″barrel. It has had a Lyman 66A receiver sight added. There is evidence of the barrel sight marks on the barrel where a blank has been installed. Those are the only scratches on the gun. The bolt is not drilled for a bolt sight. The front sight cover is in place as well as the original steel butt plate. It certainly is not refinished,in my opinion, as all the stampings are proud to the surrounding metal. The wood appears original as well with a few minor marks. It does have sling mounts on the fore end cap and butt stock.
Tell me d.o.m if you don’t mind & if you might have it in your survey. If you need additional information let me know.
Regards,
Darrin Smith #8446
Darrin.
Your Model 71 is a “Special” rifle. The date of manufacture for S/N 459 was December 26, 1935. The QD sling mounts were standard on all Model 71 Special. The only issue is the receiver mounted peep sight. The odds are against it being factory work, but there is a possibility that it could be original. The Lyman No. 66A is definitely not the correct sight. In your shoes, I would hunt down a Lyman No. 56W.
If you are inclined to do so, please dismount the Lyman No. 66A and take clear close-up pictures of the drilled & tapped holes in the receiver. Start with a picture showing the receiver with the sight still mounted, then remove the sight and take pictures of the holes as close as you can with the camera in focus.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert,
I was unaware of the possibility that any of the early receivers were drilled. That’s good news, however the barrel sight marks reinforced the notion of non-originality for me. I was satisfied to look past that notion with the early number. I will pursue a 56W sight but may first inspect the holes. Are there specific placement measurements or what is it I’m looking to reveal? The barrel sight blank in place clearly shows marks on top where it was rounded.
Was this gun included in your survey?
I am also curious what the first day of production was?
Darrin
P.S. I e-mailed a couple pics of the sight. Will do same when I get sight dismounted.
Darrin,
Production of the Model 71 officially began on October 18, 1935. Your rifle was a new entry in the survey.
In regards to your rifle, I too suspect that the receiver holes were added after the fact, but it will not hurt anything to check. The dovetail slot filler is not the type that Winchester used, and the wear pattern on the barrel confirms that it originally had a 22-K rear sight w/1C elevator.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I appreciate your time & knowledge. Will update with new photos asap.
Darrin
Okay Bert,
I made time to dismount the 66A sight from #459 this morning.
Pretty happy with the pictures.
I suspect it was not factory drilled but if you would enlighten me as to what it is that you are looking for specifically and how you are able to differentiate between factory & non-factory work.
Darrin
Darrin Smith said
Okay Bert,I made time to dismount the 66A sight from #459 this morning.
Pretty happy with the pictures.
I suspect it was not factory drilled but if you would enlighten me as to what it is that you are looking for specifically and how you are able to differentiate between factory & non-factory work.
Darrin
Darin,
Definitely aftermarket work. Winchester drilled & tapped the holes in the receiver frame before the bluing process. Additionally, the entrance to the holes were perfectly smooth (no roughness around the edges), and they were slightly counter-bored (the tapped threads did not begin at the entrance of the hole).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thank you again Bert,
I placed a want ad in the magazine iso a 56W.
If I were inclined to change the dovetail blank, for posterity, which blank is found on these early guns?
Darrin
A flat Lyman 12S slot blank would be correct for your M71.
If you can’t convince them, confuse them
Tedk said
A flat Lyman 12S slot blank would be correct for your M71.
I’m not sure what a 12 S is but any 3/8″ blank stamped Lyman is very hard to find.
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