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Hello – I have added a Winchester Model 1894 in 32-40 Win. with an octagonal barrel to keep my JM Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. Company. I consider the rifle to be in very good+ condition with a bright bore. I had requested, and have received, a factory letter for the rifle from the Center of the West Museum stating that the serial number was applied on July9, 1904; was received in the warehouse on September 23, 1904; was shipped from the warehouse on September 24, 1904. There is no reference as to where it was shipped, only the order number 249374. What I was hoping to be included in the letter, and it was not, was if it originally came with a tang mounted peep sight and where it was shipped to.
Since the screw on the tang, closest to the hammer is missing, I feel that it did have one mounted on the tang, weather originally from the factory, or possibly added later. Can anyone suggest where I could find one, with original screws, that would be age appropriate to the rifle? Many thanks.
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If the CFM factory letter does not mention any sights, the rifle was manufactured and shipped with standard open Sporting sights. It is extremely rare to find a Model 1894 with a shipping destination recorded in the warehouse ledger records.
The most common tang sight installed on a 1904 production Model 1894 was a Lyman No. 1, and for the 32-40 it would have a “D” application code. Ebay is your best bet to find one.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thank you. I will keep an eye out on e-bay. I am curious if the order number is traceable? Probably not judging by your reply. Does the Lyman No. 1 require one or two screws and how is the “D” application determined and what does it mean? Thanks again.
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The D code is stamped on the bottom of the sight and indicates what make, model, and caliber the sight was made for. The Winchester records that survived are warehouse, records not orders. T/R
The Lyman tang sight is held on by two screws. You remove the plug in the front and install a small headed screw made for the sight. The rear screw is removed and replaced with a longer and smaller headed one made for the sight. Many times a sight will come with the screws but the rear may vary in length depending on the gun grip, straight or pistol grip. If you find a sight on EBAY post a link and I’m sure some one on the Forum can help you. T/R
For what it’s worth, unless the upper tang is devoid of any finish (which it sounds like yours is not) you can usually see the outline where the base of a tang sight was had there been one mounted on the gun. The pic is of a semi-deluxe 94 coincidentally is 32-40. You can see the faint outline where the tang sight was.
Many thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I have checked e-bay with no joy, however, I’ll keep checking.
Not to hijack the thread, but what is the difference between the Lyman under discussion and a Lyman stamped 1A DA?
Tedk said
Not to hijack the thread, but what is the difference between the Lyman under discussion and a Lyman stamped 1A DA?
Ted,
The No. 1A sight was introduced in 1905 (July 1905 patent date) and it has a locking lever on the left side of the elevation stem. The “DA” application code identifies it as a “smokeless powder” cartridge sight (25-35 WCF, 30 WCF, and 32 WS). The application code for the 32-40 and 38-55 was/is a “D”.
Because the OPs rifle as manufactured in the year 1904, the correct Lyman tang sight is the No. 1 versus the later production No. 1A. From a functional standpoint, either one of them will work perfectly fine.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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