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April 20, 2020
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Hi all, I am blessed to have a Model 70 in 30-06 born in 1951 (per serial # lookup) and it sports what I believe is the Lyman 48W JS adjustable rear sight. It belonged to my uncle, a WWII pacific theater Marine, so it means a LOT just to be able to hold it… much less own it. Does the existence of the Lyman 48W JS on the rifle mean that this the Model 70 Target? It appears to be of Standard grade with a 24″ barrel so I’m thinking this is the Target model. What say you?
Thx.
November 1, 2013
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By itself, the sight means nothing. Most obvious difference from standard model is special stock–should have a beavertail fore-end & two front sling swivels.
April 20, 2020
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It does not have those features.
Thx for the quick reply.
November 5, 2014
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Hi Ray-
Congrats on having such a special rifle with family connections…
FWIW… From 1937 through 1949 (inclusive) the M70 standard rifle in 30 GOV’T’06 (with standard NRA style stock) was cataloged with either the regular Win 22G barrel mounted sporting rear sight (G7004C) OR with the Lyman 48WJS receiver sight (G7014C). Prior to 1947, the Lyman 48WJS equipped rifles had the stock inlet for the square base block of the Lyman receiver sight. From 1947 through 1949 the sight base was changed so as to eliminate the need for the stock inletting.
These are is quite different from the M70 target model with Marksman stock (G7044C) that Clarence references…
1951 would be late for a factory G7014C, but not necessarily impossible. If you want a clean answer, please provide us with a couple photos of the rifle, including the receiver sight AND the blank in the barrel dovetail, and tell us whether the stock is inlet for the sight base. Many people upgraded the sights on their M70s, so the exact shape of the dovetail blank can be a clue to whether it’s factory correct or not…
As a guest, you can’t post photos directly on this site. You’d need either to post on a third party photo-hosting site and post the link, or you could send them to me at [email protected] and I’ll post them for you.
Again, thanks for the post and please stay safe out there in COVID-land… 
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
April 20, 2020
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Thanks for the reply. I will get those pics shot asap.
Ray
November 5, 2014
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All-
Below are the photos Ray sent me of the sights on his Uncle’s M70. It is a standard rifle:
Thoughts? I’ve already shared mine with Ray. His uncle, the rifle’s original owner, was quite an interesting guy!!! 
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
April 20, 2020
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Just wanted to go ahead and share Lou’s thoughts on my M70. Lots of details here, so wanted to go ahead and share it with the group.
Thx, Lou.
Ray
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The rear sight on your rifle is a Lyman 57WJS (not 48WJS) and the dovetail blank is a post-factory replacement. When originally offered (1937-46) the Lyman 57W (not 57WJS) aperture sight was cataloged, as was the 48WJS. The 57W option was dropped from the catalog after 1946. However, the 57W was a very different sight from the 57WJS. The latter came along about 1950. See attached photo of a 57W (left) versus 57WJS to see the difference, but note that the 57WJS came with either target knobs (like your gun) or the rounded “Stayset” knobs (as in my photo). That’s not the difference… The period sight blank for a rifle with any factory receiver sight was a Lyman 12S with a flat top (not what’s on your rifle).
So I suspect your rifle had the barrel mounted sight (a Win 22G sporting sight) removed and the Lyman 57WJS receiver sight attached. This would be completely period correct for the rifle’s 1950-51 DOM, so it’s likely something your relative did.
November 5, 2014
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If it helps anyone to understand my rambling above, this is a photo of a Lyman 57W (cataloged option in 1937-46) next to a 57WJS (introduced after the Lyman 57 option was dropped). The difference is the shape of the base block and the clip on index plate of the 57W, NOT the shape of the knobs (target versus Stayset). The 57W was only made with the target style knobs, while the 57WJS could be had with either:
Rules’ book shows a Lyman 57WJS, but they were never installed by the factory as a cataloged option. The clip below from the 1945 Winchester catalog shows the 48WJS and 57W options for standard rifles. The clip-on index plate of the 57W is clearly visible:
Hope this makes sense…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
November 1, 2013
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Louis Luttrell said
The 57W was only made with the target style knobs, while the 57WJS could be had with either:
Though it was the cheaper sight, I like the larger knobs on the 57s, compared to those on 48s. Especially the early 48s–they’re unnecessarily hard to turn on every one I’ve had, even after dousing them with Kroil.
February 4, 2007
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Hey Louis, would you happen to have a photo of the correct Winchester rear sight blank mounted on a rifle so we can see what a correct one looks like? Thanks. RRM
November 5, 2014
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Hi RRM-
I have lots of pics at home, but this will do for now (lifted off an GI/Frontier Guns ad):
These were made by Lyman and are stamped 12S underneath the dovetail. Lyman also made these with the Lyman “running deer” stamped on the top, but the ones made for Winchester are not marked where you can see it. Main thing is that the blank completely fills the dovetail and is flat on top.
Sometime in the 1950’s Lyman changed the 12S and rounded off the top surface to make it look better (that’s the same Lyman 12S you can buy today), but the 48WJS option was last cataloged in 1949 so that style came later and isn’t factory. Of course, many other manufacturers (Marble’s, Stith, etc.) made similarly shaped blank pieces, but they’re usually marked on top with the manufacturer and weren’t put there by the factory.
Hope this helps!!!
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
