Help with sight identification|Winchester Sights|Forum|Winchester Collector

Grayguitar-

I’ll probably get some pushback, but based on Winchester blueprints (not Madis’ “Sight Book”), you have a post-1948 Winchester 22K.  Winchester at times had the annoying habit of applying the same name to different sights, e.g. when one design replaced another.  The original (pre-war) 22K had a “double scallop” front, while the 22G had the single scallop, like your sight.

The April 17, 1931 drawing of the 22G contains a notation, added 12-31-1947, stating “NOTE – This sight base now also used in place of 22H and 22K”.  The corresponding 22K drawing contains a revision dated 7-23-52 stating “Altered front end”, and the note “This base is same as 22H (See 22H drawing for dimensions) (See also 22G)”.  

What all this means (to me anyway), is that by the late-1940s, the 22G and 22K differed ONLY in the shape of the sheet metal slide.  The redesigned 22K slide had a shallow “V” at the top, while the 22G had a wide “U” at the top.  This difference gave the 22K a slightly higher line of sight than the 22G.  It should be noted that there was an even later version with a taller standing blade, still called 22K, that was used on Model 70 low comb Featherweights after 1953.  The photos below compare 22G, “low” 22K, and “high” 22K. Yours in the one in the middle.

Like Ben said, on Model 70s the most common elevator was the 4-step 3C, also pictured.  The Model 94 carbines usually came with a Style 1 elevator as in your photos.

As for applications, the factory 22K drawing says “Used on Model 64 – 20″ carbine. Used on Models 92 and 94 Carbine”.  I will add that the “low 22K” is also the standard rear sight on the Model 43 bolt action and (I think) that the “low 22K” replaced the 22G on low comb stocked Model 70 Standard rifles after 1952-53. There are probably other applications of which I am unaware, but most likely your sight came from a post-war/pre-64 Model 94 Carbine.

FWIW… The reason for the change on the Model 70 was that when Winchester introduced the option of a Monte Carlo stock in 1952, they changed the height of the FRONT sight from the Winchester 103C (0.310″ tall) to the Winchester 103E (0.360″ tall).  Presumably they wanted to raise the line of sight a little since the shooter’s face was placed higher.  On MC stocked rifles, the taller front sight was paired with a (new to the Model 70) folding rear sight, first the Marbles 69 and later the Lyman 16B (on standard contour barrels).  But I suppose they wanted to use the same taller front sight on all standard grade Model 70s, regardless of stock style, so on low comb standard rifles they changed to the “low 22K” sporting rear that gave about a 0.050″ higher line of sight than the 22G (corresponding to the change in front sight).

Just my take,

Lou

Thanks for the information!

Another sight thread that I need to print and insert in the sight book. Thanks Lou.