M73 Telescope Sight for M1903A4 and M1C

Don't know where else to post this, so please forgive if this isn't the most appropriate forum. Has anyone seen a Lyman Alaskan 'scope actually marked 'M73'? The M73 designation was approved for the pretty-much-standard Lyman Alaskan, for use on the M1903A4 or M1C. Senich shows in his sniper books an ordnance drawing for am M73 telescope, a military 'blessed' Lyman Alaskan - it is marked M73. My question is whether any actually got so marked.

The reason for my question: I have two Alaskan's with the military part number on the covers for the windage and elevation caps. One is marked with the standard "All-Weather" marking on the bases for the W&E adjustments; the other has unmarked bases. One has a 4-digit serial number, the other has none. I can't explain these features on a commercial Alaskan; hence I wonder if they could be M73's or prototypes for the M73 designation.

Just to confuse the situation further, the M81 on my M1C has all the proper features, but has neither a maker's mark or a serial number - early? Prototype?

Can anyone enlighten me on these?

OlManDow

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Originally Posted by OlManDow

Don't know where else to post this, so please forgive if this isn't the most appropriate forum. Has anyone seen a Lyman Alaskan 'scope actually marked 'M73'? The M73 designation was approved for the pretty-much-standard Lyman Alaskan, for use on the M1903A4 or M1C. Senich shows in his sniper books an ordnance drawing for am M73 telescope, a military 'blessed' Lyman Alaskan - it is marked M73. My question is whether any actually got so marked.

The reason for my question: I have two Alaskan's with the military part number on the covers for the windage and elevation caps. One is marked with the standard "All-Weather" marking on the bases for the W&E adjustments; the other has unmarked bases. One has a 4-digit serial number, the other has none. I can't explain these features on a commercial Alaskan; hence I wonder if they could be M73's or prototypes for the M73 designation.

Just to confuse the situation further, the M81 on my M1C has all the proper features, but has neither a maker's mark or a serial number - early? Prototype?

Can anyone enlighten me on these?

OlManDow

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Bruce,

Photos would help and yes, some scopes were marked M73 on the turret side but very few.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OlManDow

Don't know where else to post this, so please forgive if this isn't the most appropriate forum. Has anyone seen a Lyman Alaskan 'scope actually marked 'M73'? The M73 designation was approved for the pretty-much-standard Lyman Alaskan, for use on the M1903A4 or M1C. Senich shows in his sniper books an ordnance drawing for am M73 telescope, a military 'blessed' Lyman Alaskan - it is marked M73. My question is whether any actually got so marked.

The reason for my question: I have two Alaskan's with the military part number on the covers for the windage and elevation caps. One is marked with the standard "All-Weather" marking on the bases for the W&E adjustments; the other has unmarked bases. One has a 4-digit serial number, the other has none. I can't explain these features on a commercial Alaskan; hence I wonder if they could be M73's or prototypes for the M73 designation.

Just to confuse the situation further, the M81 on my M1C has all the proper features, but has neither a maker's mark or a serial number - early? Prototype?

Can anyone enlighten me on these?

OlManDow

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More than likely a prototype M73 would have been an off the shelf Lyman Alaskan.

There is a very good article that was published in the Fall 2004 GCA Journal on M81 and M82 Scopes. The authors also provide some background on the M73.

Its kind of odd that the one scope does not have a serial number as from what I am reading both the military and commercial scopes had them.

According to the GCA article Lyman M81's and M82's (and presumably M73's) started their s/n series in the low 30,000's. Wollensack M82's had three and four digit serial numbers.

At least some of the early M81's and M82's had a hybrid mix of commercail and military markings not unlike the Weaver 330C/m73B1's.

As Rambouille stated good closeup pics of the markings and the adjustment caps (top and side view) will be helpful.

Regards,

Jim