Lyman Alaskan...

[Randy A]

Jim,
I agree, I was going from memory on Harrisons illustration If the unmarked one was listed first (type 1), then I got mixed up,,, I thought it was listed as the second (type II),,, it should be.
I am not familiar with any pre-production prototypes using an Alaskan (M73) I thought the A4 was born with a Weaver 330.
Not for sure on this, but I believe the bases produced post war (prior to the rounded corners)
were marked S-SPEC on the bottom. Might check it to see if it's marked, usually very lightly,,, I'll check mine.

[JGaynor]

Jim, Would it have been possible for the prime contractor, in this case Leupold, to sub contract to Lyman, the mfg of the 03A4 bases?...The contract could have stated, mfg these base's, but don't stamp your name on them, just on the packaging....Just wondering....regards

Yes thats kind of what i was suggesting except i am not sure where Leupold would get involved. Leupold did I believe make some M84's but the 800 pound gorilla on the M84 contract seems to have been LOF (Libby Owens Ford). In the same time period Lyman was producing M82 scopes. So the scenario that seems more reasonable to me is ordnance going to a vendor and saying "sell us the whole package - scopes, rings and bases".

Incidentally and others ay have different information but the Lyman marked packaging that i have seen has only been for bases. Rings were not included.

Its a minor footnote but maybe someone will have information on a contract.

Thanks,

Jim

[JGaynor]

Jim,
I agree, I was going from memory on Harrisons illustration If the unmarked one was listed first (type 1), then I got mixed up,,, I thought it was listed as the second (type II),,, it should be.
I am not familiar with any pre-production prototypes using an Alaskan (M73) I thought the A4 was born with a Weaver 330.
Not for sure on this, but I believe the bases produced post war (prior to the rounded corners)
were marked S-SPEC on the bottom. Might check it to see if it's marked, usually very lightly,,, I'll check mine.

Randy, In December of 1942 an Ordnance committee met to finalize the specs for the M1903A4. A couple of interesting points. In that documant the A4 was to be built from the M1903 or M1903A1. However, as we know, at that moment Remington was quickly getting out of the M1903 business an favor of the simpler and cheaper M1903A3.

The report went on to authorize procurement of the Weaver 330C and Lyman Alaskan or any other telescope which met the basic specifications outlined in the report. Orders were only placed for the Weaver and the Lyman. Ordnance anticipated the delivery of the Lyman's all through 1943 and even issued Remington a third order for an additional 24,558 M1903A4's on top of the 28,365 to be delivered under the first two orders. When it ultimately became clear that Lyman would be unable to deliver Alaskans for the A4 production the third A4 Order was cancelled.

Its not exactly clear when the M73 and M73B1 nomenclature was officially adopted. I suspect sometime in early 1943 that would correspond with Weavers conversion of commercial scopes by electropenciling the nomenclature and s/n on the tube.
Its interesting to note that TM's publishe as late a June 43 still refer to both scopes by their commercial names.

Regards,
Jim

[Randy A]

Hmm, you've got me thinking now. I have an old Redfield base that is all square and flat, no step , no bevel and blued. I was about to stick it on the mill to step and bevel it for a 1903A4gery. Now I wonder if I should, I see in an old military photo that one on an A4 with M73B1 was all flat like this one?????