1903-a4 Scope Question...

[JGaynor]

1. No Weaver scopes were marked 330C. The weaver scopes, either the click adjusted 330 C or the Screw adjusted 330 S (Silent) were simply marked 330. It's possible the commercial packaging may have been marked as to the style of adjustment and reticle.

2. Remington was behind the eight ball on A4 deliveries in early 1943. The main reason for the delay was Weaver's inability to deliver scopes as fast as Remington could build rifles. To meet the delivery schedule Weaver rounded up as many 330 C scopes with Crosswire Reticles and as many 330 Scope - M.8 with tapered post reticle as it could find in US commercial channels. These commercial scopes were mounted on rifles and delivered to the Army. Based on scope serial numbers the aggregate quantity of commercial scopes may have been as many as a few thousand units. Thereafter Weaver ramped up production of the 330C but added military nomenclature and a serial number to the side of the tube with electro-pencil.
It is unclear just exactly what the commercial nomenclature "330 Scope - M.8" signified. Regular 330C and 330S scopes were both catalogued with crosswire and post reticles. 330 Scope - M.8's are encountered today with both click and screw adjustments.

3. By about serial number 5000~ (early mid 43) all Weaver 330C scopes were marked "Telescope, M73B1" in electropencil or rolled stamping on the W&E plate.

4. A "Z" Series A4 would most likely have been issued with a scope stamped:
Telescope, M73B1
Pats. Pend.
W.R. Weaver CO.
El Paso, TEX USA

The words Serial No. would be stamped on the side of the tube and the actual number NNNNN applied with an electropencil.
The adjustment knobs may have had plain flat tops or the resettable zeroing plate anchored by a small screw. Abetter guess could be made if we had the full serial no.

5. Although the Lyman Alaskan was approved for use on the A4 in Dec 42 and later militarized as the M73 none were delivered prior to the end of A4 production. It was never the standard scope for the A4 in WW2. About 1956 an Ordnance directive was published which specified that the primary and alternate scopes for the A4 were the M73B1 and the M84 respectively. At the same time units were authorized to use any remaining M73, M81 or M82 scopes on hand in the event the primary and alternate scopes were unavailable.

6. A 330 Scope - M.8 would be most appropriate on a very early A4. However keep in mind this was a piece of commercial gear pressed into military service and not an official piece of "issue" equipment.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Jim