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February 13, 2026
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Were bolt peep sights available from factory on short tang Model 71’s.
Am I correct to assume that the bolt peep sights were prone to breakage due to how high they sit above the receiver 9compared to side mounted receiver sights)?I have assumed this to be the case given the large number of bolt peep 71s I’ve come across which are missing part or all of the sight.
January 27, 1992
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My guess would be, the missing parts were the result of the owner’s personal preferance to remove the bolt peep parts. Not so much from damage done to the sight. That sighting combination was probably new to most regular hunters of that period and they were use to using the barrel sights as opposed to a peep sight. My first experiance with a peep sight didn’t occur until I went in the army. I had never seen a hunting rifle equipped with a peep sight. After going through rifle training I too learned the advatage of a peep sight over the standard barrel mounted rifle sights. Just my view. RDB
January 20, 2023
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I will hazard a guess along with some information. I don’t know the exact date the 98A ceased to be standard issue and the Lyman 56W replaced it but it was well after the short tang was adopted. The late Fortiies.
I believe a number of Model 71 rifles were assembled with bolts drilled and tapped for the 98A, after the 98A inventory was depleted. Winchester didnt waste useable parts.
I also believe bolt peeps were.stripped from.some existing rifles becaus demand for the sights is strong and the sights can be worth as much as the rest of a heavily used rifle.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
April 15, 2005
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The “short” tang Model 71 was introduced in late June 1939 and replaced the ‘long” tang by mid July 1939. The No. 98A bolt peep sight was used through 1947 when it was replaced by the Lyman 56W receiver mounted peep sight (January 1948 catalog). I discussed this in my last Model 71 article in the Summer 2021 edition of the Winchester Collector magazine – Summer 2021 (winchestercollector.org)
The No. 98A bolt peep sight was actually quite robust, not prone to breaking.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 22, 2024
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I certainly like the looks of the boltpeep, seems to appear a rugged advantage! Was the Boltpeep ever an option/standard available on the Mod 64?
January 20, 2023
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Yes, it was.
The bolt peep is very compact, sturdy and about as close to the eye as you can safely get. It leaves both receiver walls slick.
Although the 98A is not a finely adjustable micrometer sight — more of a set it once and leave it alone device — it was expensive to make, requiring a lot of machining.
At one point, NECG made a fine replica of the 98A but it was almost five hundred bucks years ago.
That is why the Lyman 56W and the Redfield 70 replaced it. It is probably my lack of experience but I’ve actually seen more Model 71 rifles with the Redfield 70 than the Lyman versions. Redfield was a catalogued option at one time, I believe.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
February 13, 2026
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I have 71s with both the old Lyman and Redfield sights. I find the REDfield sight more “elegant” (aesthically and in the finest of the machine work) and more pleasant to use.
I am still leery of the bolt peep regarding robustness.It sits higher above the receiver and looks like it is waiting to be damaged when going into or out of a horse borne scabbard. But it sure is pretty!
December 25, 2022
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Will any of the modern peep sights, fit the Win. 98A peep sight? I mean the screw in peep that comes with different size holes.
Like Lyman or Marbles?
Thanks
April 15, 2005
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M64lvr said
I certainly like the looks of the boltpeep, seems to appear a rugged advantage! Was the Boltpeep ever an option/standard available on the Mod 64?
Yes it was. It was the standard sight for all of the Model 64 rifles chambered for the 219 Zipper (a lower cost 26-H Sporting open rear sight was optional). The No. 98A bolt peep sight could have been special ordered and installed on any Model 64 rifle manufactured in the 1937 – 1952 time period. I have thus far documented seven 30 WCF and 32 WS Model 64 rifles with a bolt peep sight.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
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Dave M. said
Will any of the modern peep sights, fit the Win. 98A peep sight? I mean the screw in peep that comes with different size holes.
Like Lyman or Marbles?
Thanks
The thread pitch for the screw in aperture disc (eye-piece) is the same on the No. 98A and 98C bolt peeps sights as the Luman No. 2/2A tang sights. However, the OD of the aperture is limited to the smaller discs due to the clearance. I believe that the correct OD for the discs used on the No. 98A was .375″.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 22, 2024
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I’ve certainly never seen a Mod 64 with the Bolt Peep, don’t recall ever seeing a pic of one, but I kinda always figured Winchester to have come through on this option. One reasons gotta love the Old Winchester’s, they’re almost unlimited offers, or custom offerings towards going the distance for customers!
July 3, 2020
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I bought Mike Richards bolt peep repair parts when he retired. I have several of the windage blocks and apertures available. The windage screw & round slotted retaining is in the process of being reproduced along with the elevation wheel screw & nut… they will hopefully be available after the first of the year. The windage screw is double threaded and my machinist isn’t happy with me right now. You can substitute a #4 thread screw and use a hex nut (peening over the screw) as a fix (it’s ugly, but works.) The machinist is also reproducing the bodies of the 98A and 98C… I sent him one of each for patterns… his machine can even reproduce the markings… I’m hoping they turn out nice as there are alot of guys in need…. cheers. Ben
January 20, 2023
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Ben said
I bought Mike Richards bolt peep repair parts when he retired. I have several of the windage blocks and apertures available. The windage screw & round slotted retaining is in the process of being reproduced along with the elevation wheel screw & nut… they will hopefully be available after the first of the year. The windage screw is double threaded and my machinist isn’t happy with me right now. You can substitute a #4 thread screw and use a hex nut (peening over the screw) as a fix (it’s ugly, but works.) The machinist is also reproducing the bodies of the 98A and 98C… I sent him one of each for patterns… his machine can even reproduce the markings… I’m hoping they turn out nice as there are alot of guys in need…. cheers. Ben
Great idea, Ben.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
January 27, 1992
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In regards to the peep sights being used on the Model 64. They were almost standard on the 219 ZIPPER and optional on the other calibers. I have a Model 64 Special in 30 W.C.F. with the bolt peep and a 219 Zipper Special that also has the bolt peep. RDB
January 20, 2023
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kujuak said
I have 71s with both the old Lyman and Redfield sights. I find the REDfield sight more “elegant” (aesthically and in the finest of the machine work) and more pleasant to use.
I am still leery of the bolt peep regarding robustness.It sits higher above the receiver and looks like it is waiting to be damaged when going into or out of a horse borne scabbard. But it sure is pretty!
My 71 originally had a Lyman 56W but somebody swiped it and substituted a Williams FP-71. I have nothing against the FP line and have one on my Mountie but wanted to get back to factory on the 71. Swung out on any Lyman 56Ws but found an as-new steel Redfield 80, the 70 successor and the only mechanical difference is a button staff release (but also nasty little pins in lieu of the 70″s screws, sadly.)
I liked it so well I found another one for my Miroku built 1886 Sporting Rifle. I paid through the nose for the first one because it was coded for the 86/71 receiver. I ve since discovered the :E/94 codes work just fine on the wider receiver, with only an insignificant loss of windage adjustment.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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