I'll have to break out my Ouija board to answer that one!!!

I believe it had something to do with the state of optics as they were most often used on rifles at the time the M70 was being designed c.1934.  The two holes atop the front receiver ring are described in catalogs as being there to permit mounting of a telescopic sight block.  So I'm assuming they were thinking of the long telescopic sights with externally adjustable mounts, e.g. Lyman, Fecker, Litschert, and later Unertl.  Not internally adjustable low power scopes mounted close to the receiver using a top mount. 

Given that 1930's scopes were prone to fogging or failure, at the time the popular approach to installing what we think of as a "hunting scope" was the G&H side mount, b/c it allowed easy removal of the scope (or even using iron sights by looking under the scope).  Winchester would even install a G&H mount for you on special order, but it's not clear how many they installed compared to guns sent to G&H or G&H mounts installed by outside gunsmiths.  Yes, the Redfield JR mount (and it's predecessor) were available n the later 1930's...

As for where the front scope block was supposed to go...  Certainly the Target rifles (National Match, Target Model and Bull Gun) came with factory scope blocks on the barrel.  As for standard barrels the user had two options: a cross dovetail block (Lyman BK usually works) installed in the rear sight dovetail OR drill a couple holes out in front of the barrel boss for a scope block.  Because mount spacing determines the incremental change produced by one "click" of a micrometer adjustable mount, the serious scoped rifle shooter tended to opt for the latter approach.  Using the rear sight dovetail put the mounts a bit too close together, making the click adjustments more like 1/3 MOA than 1/4 MOA...

An interesting (to me) side note.  The factory blueprint for the 26-inch standard contour barrel (drawn 5-22-35) which at the time was for the M54 220 Swift barrel b/c 300 H&H Magnum was never a M54 cartridge, DOES show two D&T holes atop the barrel for a scope block.  They just never made them that way, except maybe (???) on special order...  But somebody was thinking about it!!!

When thinking about the "no-drill" scope mounts offered by Stith (Install-It-Yourself, Quick-Easy-Detachable, Master Mount) and Bausch & Lomb, I find it helpful to remember that when these products were introduced (some in the post-war 1940s) the vast majority of M70s out there (the first 60,500 or so) were not drilled.  It wasn't until 1949, when M70 serial numbers reached 120,000, that the number of factory drilled M70s in circulation equalled the number of undrilled pre-wars.  So there was a market niche to be filled...

In short, Hellifino what they were thinking...

Lou

Paul H said
On GunBroker this week as listed by Lock Stock and Barrel is a later model “94” in the Trapper configuration. Looks to be legit but I’m not too well versed in “Trapper” models.  If anyone has the time after the 4th to check it out and render an opinion it might be educational and would certainly be appreciated.  The pictures aren’t great—ad says it’s been refinished. It’s late enough to have proper “walnut” stocks w/long forend wood—the pinned front sight looks correct in relation to the barrel band—a saddle ring is present. A few days remain on the auction and it’s already generated some interest.  Thanks for all your inputs and expertise.   PH
  

I Have a Winchester Model 1894 AE 30/30 Made in New Haven Connecticut. It is a 357 with a 16” barrel and a Saddle Ring. The front and rear sight is highlighted in White.the serial number is 6478312. It is like brand new. Don’t have a mark on it. I can’t remember where I got it or how much I paid, but it is an authentic Winchester. Does the 16” barrel make it a trapper? 

Thanks,

Bill

Thank you for the extra photo!!!  Turns out I have one very close to your serial number (s/n 77043).  

Mine must have been made for the factory Lyman 48WJS isght b/c the barrel lacks the two D&T holes for the base that secures the Lyman 6W.  I do not think this was a "special order" feature.  Rather, it appears that Winchester made some 375 Magnum contour barrels without holes intending them for G7017C (375 Magnum with Lyman receiver sight).  S/N 77072 doesn't have D&T holes in the barrel either...

Best,

Lou

Yes it would...

But the easier solution would be to buy a Lyman 48WJS made after 1950 in the first place.  They made them until about 1975 and there are a ton of later ones out there.  IIRC only the 1947-1950 version of the "half block" Lyman 48WJS had that protruding elevation screw issue. 

The other "issue", where the sharp inside corner of the base can contact the wood, making it hard to get the sight in full contact with the receiver, remains however.  It's hit or miss.  Final shaping/sanding of pre-64 M70 stocks was done by hand, so there's a little variability from stock to stock in how thick that side wall of the stock it.  It's not a big/noticeable difference, until you try and put a receiver sight on and find it won't fit flush b/c it contacts the wood.

Personally, I'd go with the Redfield.  I've yet to have a problem with one of them fitting and, like you said, the quality is there...

Best,

Lou

I have both and prefer the 80 because it has a slide release button (like the Lyman 48) allowing for rapid large changes in elevation when sighting in or for removing the slide entirely. 

The quality of construction of the Redfield and Lyman sigjts is the same. 

The last Model 80 sights were made of aluminum, which I've never seen. However, steel versions of the 80 are not uncommon and there are plenty of the Model 70

QUESTION FOR LOU: wouldn't removing a few threads off the bottom of the elevation screw of the Lyman 48 solve that problem? That's what I had to do for my Lyman 48 on my 52C Sporting.  

That looks like a very nice collectable M70.  Would you be willing to give me the serial number (by PM if you prefer) so I can enter it in the M70 survey?  Winchester didn't factory D&T the bridge of H&H length actions until late 1950, around s/n 170,000.  It even says so in their catalogs of the time.

As has been discussed, you have several options that don't require maiming the bridge.  You'd have a very (impossible?) time finding a Stith "Install-It-Yourself" style mount for the 375 Magnum barrel contour, since that mount used the rear sight dovetail (that you barrel doesn't have) and receiver sight holes to secure the mount.  However, the Stith Master Mount, which used the receiver sight holes and front receiver ring holes, was made for the H&H length action.  It was a rugged (ugly) externally adjustable mount but you could attach just about any scope with it.  It looks like this on a 375 H&H M70.  The rear mount extends down the left side of the receiver to attach via the receiver sight holes.  The scope on this one is a Stith 2 3/4X "Double" (meaning it has internal adjustments) but you could mount any 1-inch tube scope as long as the objective bell isn't huge:

Another option is that Bausch & Lomb made a version of their externally adjustable mount that likewise didn't requie the bridge to be D&T.  It looks like this on an undrilled 1948 300 H&H Magnum:

While these are "vintage" mounts, I don't think they're too hard to find on eBay, etc.  They're the two best options I can think of for an undrilled H&H length M70 action.

There are many receiver sight options.  As Zeb pointed out, in 1947 Lyman changed the base block of the 48WJS such that it could be installed without removing a chunk of the stock.  After 1950 it could be had with either the "Target" or "Stayset" knobs.  The only downsides to that one is that on the 1947-1950 version the elevation screw did protrude a little at the bottom so it can't be put all the way down without creating a "divot" in the stock, and depending on the individual stock the bottom edge of the base block still sometimes contacted the wood, leaving an impressed "scar" when removed.  

But there are many options, for example the Lyman 57WJS or Redfield 70W and 80W sights, where the base block was entirely above the wood.  No problems there.  For a 375 Magnum that you're probably not going to shoot over 200 yards you don't need a huge amount of elevation adjustment.

Hope this Helps,

Lou

turnbull makes a 3/8 dovetail picatinny mount so that someone can put a modern red dot on a vintage rifle.  

I agree with txgunnut that it would be silly, however, I’ve never hunted in Africa, I’ve never been in combat, but should I, having a forward mounted red dot only looks silly if I don’t need to use it.  

-Adam 

The later ones don't. Perhaps someone who owns an earlier one will.post a picture of the sight base, showing you what to avoid. 

I believe most of the Lyman 48 WJS sights available on eBay are the later version with short base. 

An alternative would be a Redfield 70 or 80, neither of which required cutting the stock. 

I strongly suggest you consult our member Ben Tolson, a knowledgeable dealer in these sights. I would buy from him with confidence. 

There are two versions of the same Redfield and Lyman sights, the Target version and the Hunter version. The "T" version has knobs for windage and elevation adjustments that are knurled for cranking in changes (" clicks") as the situation requires. The "H" version has rounded knobs with screwdriver slots that are intended to be set during a range session and then left alone. Like a scope. 

For your purpose, the Hunter version would be preferable. 

The base of Redfield and Lyman sights is coded to indicate which rifle the base fits. The base is stamped with the code. The stamped code does not include a T or a W because the knobs are interchangeable. The original cardboard box containing the sight indicates T or H on its label.

A Lyman 48 sight coded "WJS" fits the Winchester Model 70 rifle. A 48 WJS-H has Hunter knobs. 

A Redfield 70 sight coded "W" fits the Winchester Model 70 rifle. A 70-WT has target knobs.