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I thought I’d attempt to further the discussion about Malcolm scoped Winchesters.
I found out from Clarence the other day that the scope on the pictured Winchester Model 75 is a Model No. 1. (This rifle never has had any open iron sights on it, only a scope.) I also dusted off my copy of Sharpe’s, “The Rifle in America” that he had mentioned and lo and behold confirmed what he had told me. It seems that I had become so use to going straight to Stroebel’s book for information on most any type of scope in America, that I had apparently forgotten what I had read about the Malcolm’s a long time ago. Thank you, Clarence!!!! Should you like old scopes, make sure you have a copy of Sharpe’s book!
About the time that Clarence, Chuck, and I ended our discussion on the Malcolm’s, I decided to search online to see if I could find something about them that I was not aware of, and I did come across a link where they had been discussed, and in this discussion which is filled with some great pictures, too, there were two excerpts, apparently from two old articles that date back to 1895 and 1929 titled “…Special Notice…” and “WE ARE AGENTS FOR ALL MALKES OF RIFLES,” respectively. (LINK: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/13294332/malcolm-scoped-1899s .) The last title says it all for the point I would like to make, and that is this: It is apparent that the Wm. Malcom Company would make a purchase of most any rifle from the manufacturer and scope it to a customer’s specifications. This tidbit of information reminded me of what I have read here and on other forums about other companies like Lyman, for example, in extending the same kind of service. It’s no wonder that Winchester extended the same sort of service for their customers when it came to putting most any scope on one of their rifles that a customer wanted.
James
The cope pictured is numbered 6099.
Some of the pictures below are a bit fuzzy…seems my hands are not as steady as they once were, but I do hope you enjoy seeing them:
Some rough notes about William Malcolm:
Apparently named after his father, who was from Scotland.
Born in U.S. at Sullivan, Madison County, NY in 1823, died at his home in Syracuse, Onondaga, NY in 1890.
Married Frances Cone.
Had three daughters, and son William Junior.
Father and son had died before 1881.
NY State census – Occupation:
1855 – Gun Manufacturer.
1865 – Optician (?) This census is difficult to read.
1875 – Optician.
Federal Census – Occupation:
1870 and 1880 – Optician.
CW – Occupation – Mechanic.
Immediate cause of death being fatty degeneration of the heart. In scientific circles, he was known the world over for his instruments. It was his ambition to make a telescope that was self adjusting to distance, i.e. like that of the human eye…and it is said that he accomplished this, although thought to be impossible. He went blind in one eye in 1869 due to an explosion during a gun test.
1894 – Manager of the Malcolm Telescope Company was William A. Koehler.
1900 – Manager of the Malcolm Telescope Company was W.H. Cummings.
William Malcom was also an expert marksman.
He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse, NY.
Credit: ancestry.com references.
James
Jim do you have any of the Malcolm scope catalogs? I believe there were 4.
Chuck said
Jim do you have any of the Malcolm scope catalogs? I believe there were 4.
I’m almost certain that I had one that I purchased from Cornell publishing, but I have misplaced it. I don’t know how many there were, but you might be correct. Clarence ought to know.
Thanks for the response.
James
Cornell sells 4 different ones, but that certainly doesn’t mean there were ONLY four. Those from the ’30s show up on ebay, & can be bought for not too much more than the reprints. (All the Cornell reprints I have are cheap & tacky looking, but I swallow my distaste if nothing better is available.)
Gents,
New to the forum and am at a loss of information regarding a Wm. Malcolm, Syracuse NY, 33″ scope I recently acquired.
It is side-mounted to a Win 1886 rifle (mfg 1892) and appears to be original. The reticle is a tapered post and there are 2 fine brass screws located in 1/4″ slots; one near the ocular end and the other about midway. Ocular piece has a decorative filigree and is a pressure fit to the tube. Tube is approximately 3/4″ diameter. Guessing magnification is 3X or 4X.
Would appreciate any information on this scope. Photos available after my 1st post is approved.
Thanks,
Brian.
chefbq said
Gents,New to the forum and am at a loss of information regarding a Wm. Malcolm, Syracuse NY, 33″ scope I recently acquired.
It is side-mounted to a Win 1886 rifle (mfg 1892) and appears to be original. The reticle is a tapered post and there are 2 fine brass screws located in 1/4″ slots; one near the ocular end and the other about midway. Ocular piece has a decorative filigree and is a pressure fit to the tube. Tube is approximately 3/4″ diameter. Guessing magnification is 3X or 4X.
3X or 4X would be unusual, as most scopes made during this period had magnifications much higher–TOO high for the small dia objectives. Post reticle is also unusual, but could no doubt be special ordered. Tubes were made in 4 diameters, yours the largest. No standard lengths–they were individually hand-made, so whatever a customer asked for, he probably got. Scopes were priced according to quality of lenses, but don’t think they were marked to indicate quality at this time. The ocular end slot should be for focusing the reticle, & the other must be for range.
Chuck said
I would love to see pictures of how this is mounted.
Probably same way as the scoped ’73 someone here (I forget whom) has posted photos of previously. The offset side-mount was the only practical means of mounting on a lever-action, though it made for a very clumsy package. Even top-mounted full-length scopes (I’ve had several) are awkward to handle in the field. Opticians knew how to make much shorter scopes (such as transits), but the mounts of the time were too crude to allow for small, precise, adjustments at long range. Separating front & rear mounts by a longer distance allowed for much finer adjustments.
clarence said
Chuck said
I would love to see pictures of how this is mounted.
Probably same way as the scoped ’73 someone here (I forget whom) has posted photos of previously. The offset side-mount was the only practical means of mounting on a lever-action, though it made for a very clumsy package. Even top-mounted full-length scopes (I’ve had several) are awkward to handle in the field. Opticians knew how to make much shorter scopes (such as transits), but the mounts of the time were too crude to allow for small, precise, adjustments at long range. Separating front & rear mounts by a longer distance allowed for much finer adjustments.
Clarence I have the 73 with the Malcolm. But the 73 has a side plate screw for the rear mounting location. Not sure how it mounts on an 86?
Chuck said
Clarence I have the 73 with the Malcolm. But the 73 has a side plate screw for the rear mounting location. Not sure how it mounts on an 86?
You lucky dog! There’s no gun anyone has shown here that I’d rather own! Don’t ask me what for; just to admire the mechanical ingenuity of the installation, I guess. Mounts on the ’86 were probably attached the same way top mounts were attached–by drilling & tapping, & no one at the time gave a second thought to doing it that way; if markings had to be defaced, so be it. In some applications, the front & rear sight seats could be used for the mounts, but they had to be the right distance apart for this to work.
clarence said
Chuck said
Clarence I have the 73 with the Malcolm. But the 73 has a side plate screw for the rear mounting location. Not sure how it mounts on an 86?
You lucky dog! There’s no gun anyone has shown here that I’d rather own! Don’t ask me what for; just to admire the mechanical ingenuity of the installation, I guess. Mounts on the ’86 were probably attached the same way top mounts were attached–by drilling & tapping, & no one at the time gave a second thought to doing it that way; if markings had to be defaced, so be it. In some applications, the front & rear sight seats could be used for the mounts, but they had to be the right distance apart for this to work.
Just for you.
Chuck said
This scope is a later & improved design than the one on the ’86 (based on its description), first offered in the 1905 catalog, as far as I know. In earlier catalogs, Malcolm said he could & would make scopes as short as 12″, but discouraged their use because they caused “much trouble”; why, he didn’t explain.
Gentlemen,
Attached photos of my 1886 Malcolm/Syracuse NY set-up.
Ordered some 40-82 BP ammo from Old South Ammo. Could be fun!
chefbq said
How do I load photos on a Reply?
Guests can’t do so directly. I’ll post them for you if you send them to my email: [email protected]
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