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November 5, 2014
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Hi Clarence-
I wholly agree that it’s possible to carry “period” too far, especially if practicality is important. It’s just what I do… 
On the infrequent occasions that I decide to “accessorize” one of my M70s, I start by doing what I did above. Go to the Shooters Bible closest to the year the gun was made and “shop” based on what I could have bought at the time. 
I did that with my two “Gopher” sightless Featherweights, one with a late 1957 serial number (422990X – ‘X’ denoting duplicate S/N) and the other from 1961 (S/N 543606). No documentation either was purchased from Gopher Shooter’s Supply, but that’s another story… Still I wanted them to look like the pictures in the respective Gopher catalogs (1959 and 1961). In each catalog, the scope is a Kolmorgen/Redfield fixed 6X. In the 1959 catalog it’s in Weaver bases/rings and in the 1961 catalog it’s in Redfield Dualite bases/rings. Since Redfield didn’t acquire Kolmorgen Optical Company until 1959, on the former rifle I went with a Kolmorgen 6X (predecessor to the Redfield product and the same external appearance) in Weaver 26mm rings (hard to find). For the latter I went with a period Redfield 1″ tube (so marked) fixed 6X in non-streamlined Dualite (aluminum) bases with 6-screw Dualite rings. Hardest part of the whole quest was finding the non-streamlined Dualite bases. What??? Me warped???
Regarding the installation of “solid” Redfield rings, I was thinking about the Weaver K4 or K6 (or similar). With something like a Lyman Alaskan, you can just unscrew the ocular bell and put both rings behind the adjustment turret, which you need to do anyway b/c of the long eye relief. But on those Weavers with one-piece steel tubes (including an objective bell), the adjustment turret is close enough to the middle of the scope tube that you have to have one ring between the turret and the objective bell. The rear ring is easy, since the ocular bell unscrews readily, but I don’t see how you can get the front ring into place without disassembling the turret… Oddly, I have a decent early K6 (with the exposed target/click adjustments) that came to me with Redfield solid rings installed as above. So it can be done…
For Darrin, a good choice IMHO would be to get a late-50s to 60s Weaver 60 Series scope in whatever power he prefers or even a Lyman All American Perma Center, and mount the scope using a Redfield JR base with 6-screw (1950s) or 8-screw (1960s) 1″ split rings. That would give a vintage “look” to the rifle while taking advantage of some of the improved technology.
Just My Take…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
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Thank you men kindly, and WOW! what an invaluable source of information. I will mull this over and check on availability of some of these options. I’m sure I’ll check back.
Regards, Darrin
Darrin Smith said
I will mull this over and check on availability of some of these options.
Darrin, If you haven’t done it before, may I suggest that you create a “saved search” on ebay for whatever you decide on, as that’s where most scopes & mounts are listed. Unless of course Lou has what you’re looking for!
November 5, 2014
Online
Hi Darrin-
Look over your options, decide which way you want to go, then drop me a PM. Clarence isn’t kidding (all that much) b/c I do have a fairly large pile of random M70 related scopes and mounts that I will never need. Not everything you might want, but maybe something(s) that could save search time…
The “price” would be right, i.e. “free to a good home”…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Darrin,
My thought regarding scopes/mounts on pre-64 70’s — I stay only somewhat period correct on my guns. I always mount up a scope on my guns and do shoot and hunt with them. I have used Buehler, Redfield, Stith Master and Weaver mount set-ups. I have tried most of the classic scopes too and have compared them and developed some opinions, yet there’s no wrong choice, really.
Currently, my guns have ended up with vintage Weaver mounts with the patent number stamped rings with the round cross slots bases. I think those are circa 50’s-60’s. The Weaver mounts allow the use of iron sights with the scope detached, which the Redfield and Buehler don’t. The Weaver mount does not have windage in it, like the Redfield/Buehler. If you go with a non-centering reticle scope, as Lou mentioned, the Buehler Micro-Dial would be a great choice, because it had elevation too. Buehler mounts were superbly made and finished.
I compromise on period correctness on my scopes to get closer to modern image brightness. For example, the late Weaver series -1 (e.g. K4-1) and Micro-trac scopes being among my favorite scopes. They are essentially fully modern optically yet made in USA with blued steel tubes. The -1 and Micro-Tracs are 70’s-early 80’s era, so not pre-64 period correct, though they sure look it. A blued steel tube looks better to me than aluminum anodized scopes. The vintage steel tube scope choices include: Weavers, Lyman Alaskan/Challenger, and some Unertls.
Another choice Lou mentioned that I would second, would be the Lyman All-American. They were made from the late 50’s-80’s. They are a good looking scope with a cool looking logo. I have had good luck with All-Americans. A Leupold M7 would also be close to period correct, late 50’s-60’s, and are also pretty much modern optically. Though the Leupold M7 has a big eyepiece and requires high rings with Weaver mounts.
JC said
A blued steel tube looks better to me than aluminum anodized scopes.
Of course, how could it not? And the anodized coating rubs off, as it has done on my first model Alaskan, a mistake Lyman corrected by using a steel tube for the All-Weather Alaskan.
Louis Luttrell said Clarence isn’t kidding (all that much) b/c I do have a fairly large pile of random M70 related scopes and mounts that I will never need.
Not that it’s likely to be anything you would have acquired, but I’ve been looking a long time for the 1X scope Weaver once advertised for use on shotguns; doubt few were ever sold, hence their present scarcity.
November 5, 2014
Online
Sorry Clarence… I never picked up a Weaver K1. I couldn’t think of a use for one on a M70…
With the exception of a nice Weaver K10 60-B, I believe that all the Weaver scopes (K2.5, K4 and K6) I have lying around loose are the old exposed adjustment style. Some with the little nubby adjustment screw/locking nut and a few with the exposed target/click adjustable knobs.
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis Luttrell said
With the exception of a nice Weaver K10 60-B, I believe that all the Weaver scopes (K2.5, K4 and K6) I have lying around loose are the old exposed adjustment style. Some with the little nubby adjustment screw/locking nut and a few with the exposed target/click adjustable knobs.
Lou
Don’t need any of these, but like the antiquated appearance of the old-style turret; same reason I picked up the early Alaskan, which I never expect to use.
I wanted to try shooting offhand with a K1, & already found that even 2.5X is too much magnification for my unsteady nerves.
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