Bill-

Actually the chambering does matter, as does whether the stock is Monte Carlo or Low Comb…

Since the .270 WIN (along with .243 WIN, 30-06 SPRG., and .358 WIN) were added to the FWT line in 1955, you are interested in post-’54 sights on the FWT and standard.

From 1954-63 with the Monte Carlo stock, the Standard rifle used a Lyman 16B folding leaf, while the FWT used a Lyman 16A.  They differ only in height of the folding leaf with the FWT sight being taller.  Below, the taller 16A is on the left (photos “borrowed’ from pre64win.com):

The Low Comb stocks were different, but the FWT was available with a low comb stock in all chamberings except .243 WIN, so it might be relevant.  From (roughly) 1954-1957 the rear sight on the Low Comb standard and FWT was described as being a Win 22K, which is a long spring type sight like the Win 22G.  This gets tricky, however, b/c the Win 22K also came in TWO heights (both called Win 22K).  The lower one, used on standard rifles, was identical to a Win 22G EXCEPT for the shape of the moveable sheet metal insert containing the sighting notch.  The FWT version of the Win 22K was the same EXCEPT that the standing leaf was taller.  

I have both at home, so if it’s important (meaning if you’re asking about sights for a 1955-57 Low Comb FWT) I can dig them out and post a comparison of the 22G and the two 22Ks.  After about 1957, by which time I suspect that there weren’t many Low Comb stock M70s being made in either Standard or FWT, I think everything was assembled using the Lyman 16A/16B for FWT and Standard rifle, respectively.

NOTE to all the pre-war lever gun experts.  What Winchester called a 22K pre-war is a different sight than what they called a 22K post-war.  The pre-war version, which was still pictured in late 1940s post-war parts catalogs, had a “double scallop” on the front edge.  The sight was apparently “redesigned” around 1948. Steve (seewin) has, in the past, posted call outs of the 1948 factory blue prints indicating what the post-war 22K looked like.

And, as always, I welcome corrections to anything I’ve stated above. 

Hope this helps,

Lou

Hi Bill-

I get overly long-winded at times…   Sorry…

While I’d assume that a .270 WIN FWT would be a ’55 or later gun and have the Lyman 16A sight, it may be worth noting that from 1952-54 (roughly) the folding rear sight on Monte Carlo stocks was the Marbles 69.  1952 being the year that the FWT was first cataloged (.308 WIN only) AND the year the Monte Carlo stock was first offered (for both Standard and FWT).

Like the Lyman 16A/B, the Marbles 69 came in two heights, with the lower one used on Standard rifles and the taller one on the FWT.  Again borrowing photos from pre64win.com:

The Low Comb Standard rifles of the time used the Win 22G until it was replaced by the very similar low Win 22K from 1954-57 (roughly).  As for the Low Comb .308 WIN FWTs in 1952-53, there’s some degree of confusion (in my mind anyway).  The factory catalogs, as well as the Winchester’s Brochure introducing the “New” FWT, describe and picture BOTH the Low Comb and MC Comb FWTs with a folding rear sight (tall Marbles 69).  Both my 1952 Low Comb FWT (SN 224336) and 1954 MC Comb FWT (SN 284935) are so equipped, but of course I cannot prove that those rear sights are original.

But since the tall WIN 22K designed for the Low Comb FWT was not introduced until 1954, it would make sense to me that the tall Marbles 69 would have been used on FWTs, regardless of stock style, in 1952-53 (in agreement with the catalog).  But “conventional wisdom” (and Rule’s book) seem to imply that the early Low Comb FWTs used the 22G.  

Anybody have an answer to my confusion? 

Best,

Lou