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Tom Sterr said
would also look for a pacific sight from this time period .
That would be a Pacific W1 or W2 (the better one). Pacific catalog is very specific (unlike Lyman, sometimes) in clarifying whether stock mods are required.
Tom and Clarence, Thank you both for your advice. This information gives me some choices to look at and for.
November 5, 2014
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Hi Dave-
Tom and Clarence have good advice… 
If you want to be period correct for a receiver sight on a M54 and not cut the stock, you might go with a Redfield 102W (rugged but hard to adjust) or a Redfield 90W or 100W (hard to find but micrometer adjustable and no inletting). The Redfield 80W didn’t come along until about 1940 (easier to find and not too far off). The Lyman 57W (NOT 57 WJS) was there by 1937 and would also be good. The 57WJS was a 1950 sight… Too late even for a M70 IMHO…
One of my M54s (a 1st standard in 30 WCF) has a Redfield 100W. I neither know nor care if the factory put it there – it was in the catalog as an optional sight on the M54. I also once picked up a Redfield 102W in the box that says Model 54 (no mention of the M70) so that’s a good choice too!!!
For reference…
Redfield 100W:
Redfield 102W:
Lyman 57W (on the left with the 57WJS on right):
Hope this helps!!!
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis, Once again thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge about the M54 and M70 on this site and specifically to me. The search is on !
Louis Luttrell said
If you want to be period correct for a receiver sight on a M54 and not cut the stock, you might go with a Redfield 102W (rugged but hard to adjust) or a Redfield 90W or 100W (hard to find but micrometer adjustable and no inletting). The Redfield 80W didn’t come along until about 1940 (easier to find and not too far off). The Lyman 57W (NOT 57 WJS) was there by 1937 and would also be good. The 57WJS was a 1950 sight… Too late even for a M70 IMHO…
So Lyman never produced a 48 variant modified to fit without stock butchery? Even into the ’50s?
Your new-in-the-box Redfield is pretty cute, but how about that new-in-the-box Stith? Even if the seller seems rather excessively attached to it.
November 5, 2014
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Hi Clarence-
I know that you know, though others may not, that Lyman introduced what I call the “half block” 48WJS in 1947. These had a coved base block that did not require the rectangular stock cut out, but as you pointed out when the slide is fully depressed the elevation screw does protrude and will create a “divot” on the top edge of the stock (or require a small relief cut). These 1947-1950 half block sights can be identified by the external leaf spring on the left side of the block.
At some point around 1950, after Lyman changed over to using an internal coil return spring for the slide lock cylinder, it appears that they did modify (some) of the 48WJS sights so that the elevation screw would not protrude. Not sure exactly when that change was introduced, but at least on the 60-point slide version with the rounded hunter style “Stayset” knobs, the elevation screw stays within the block. So you CAN find a Lyman 48WJS that will work without stock butchery, but it would be notably later production than you’d expect to see on a M54.
Speaking only of M70 Standard rifles and Super Grades, these later Lyman 48WJS sights remained cataloged options for the 30-06 and 270 WIN chamberings ONLY through 1950-51, everything else being dropped after 1949. I was surprised to find that in the 1950 catalog the Lyman sighted guns are pictured (and described) as having “Stayset” knobs. Like the internal coil spring, the Stayset knobs seem to have not appeared on Lyman 48 sights until about that time, and I’d presumed (incorrectly) that they were never factory installed on a M70.
The two half block Lyman 48WJS variants (leaf versus coil spring) are on the right in this series:
As for Stith mounts, which one do you want? None will work on a M54 without altering the bolt handle:
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis Luttrell said
As for Stith mounts, which one do you want? None will work on a M54 without altering the bolt handle:
So now we know why they command such high prices on ebay! “Someone” has cornered the market!
This exchange is worth a reply. My M54 Hornet came from an uncle -made in 1934 with an A suffix for improvements.
Ironically, it has a long slide W Lyman 48 and a Redfield that came with the rifle. But best of all at least to me, were extra holes along side of the receiver that allowed mounting of a G&H sidemount and a Lyman Alaskan scope. The Griffin and Howe mount for a scope is one of the best in my judgment, as it allows use of iron sights where necessary. I am a hunting collector, which means I hunt for game while also finding rare Winchesters. G&H mounts are also on a pre-war M-70 with a Lyman Alaskan. Purists may bite their bolts. The M-54s and M-70s were made for a reason-to be shot.
I also have an NRA carbine in 270 WCF. Worn but still a representative sample.
If you should find this a bit out of the ordinary, a look at my pre-war Model 71 collection-with wildcat cartridges included, will get attention in Alaska.
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