Lyman 5A Telescopic Sight

[Dan Drabek]

Hi there. This is my first post on this forum. Hopefully my photos will load correctly.

About 15 years ago I purchased a 1919 Stevens 414 target rifle. A few years later, I spotted a vintage scope that I felt would look about right on the rifle. To me it appeared to be a small bore target scope. It was in nearly mint condition in the box. I bought the scope and had a gunsmith mount it on the rifle.

I recently did a search on the internet and ran across information that indicated that the scope is 1930's to 1940's vintage and is a sniper scope intended for use on the 1903 Springfield. However the box is marked in a way that suggests that this particular scope was made to fit a Savage 19 target rifle.

So my questions are:

1. Is this a military sniper scope, or is it a small bore target scope?
2. Is it of reasonably correct vintage for my Stevens rifle?
3. Is it a user, or should I be preserving it as a collectible--considering it's pristine condition?
4. The scope apparently is designed to slide in the mounting. Recoil after firing makes the scope slide an inch or so forward, and I have to manually pull it back into position against the ring stop. Do I have the scope mounted incorrectly, or is it missing any parts (recoil spring, etc.).

Thanks for your help.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Jim Tarleton]

The box refers to the bases that fit the Savage. The scope will fit any rifle if you have the correct bases.

Early Marine rifles did indeed use this scope and mount on the 1903 Springfield (they painted the dial markings white so they could see them in dim light), and it is a very good one to this day. I use one on my hunting rifle, and I have many to choose from.

You do have to pull the scope into battery after every shot. It was designed that way.

The scope dates from 1910-1911, but yours has #2 mounts, which dates it after about 1912 up to 1926.

Current value is around $650, unless you get lucky. I have seen them sell for more.

Jim

[duggaboy]

thanks for the information jim. what a beautiful scope, and interesting to think that it could return anywhere close to zero after firing and then returning to that zero mark? duggaboy

[Michael Petrov]

You have a very nice scope and I like to see the boxes with them. I did not think that the Lyman 5A was introduced before 1929. All the early ones did not have click mounts like all the Winchesters before them. IMO the Lyman 5A is a superior scope to the Winchester A5. I would also recommend not pulling the scope back into battery but instead push in back with the left hand from the front.

[Dan Drabek]

Thank you all for your quick replies. I figured this would be the right place to ask.
I had no idea of the value of the scope. In a way, I'm a little sorry to hear it, as I really can't afford to shoot a $600 scope. ;->

I imagine $46.50 was a pretty significant chunk of cash when this scope was new.

DD

Here are a few additional shots:

[Michael Petrov]

Does your scope have "Click" adjustment windage and elevation?

The reason I ask is I have one serial number 1101 W/O clicks and Serial No. 2003 that does.

Click to view the original image

[Dan Drabek]

Yes, it has two clicks per scale division. Mine is serial number 2063.
DD

[Michael Petrov]

Thanks that's interesting my scope has the printed price of $44 scratched out and $46.50 written to the side and they are only 62 numbers apart.

[Dan Drabek]

Interesting. They must have come off the assembly line at close to the same time. (depending on how many they made)
DD

[Emri]

Dan,

That scope looks right at home on your Savage rifle. It is of the correct vintage/time period also. Do not worry about shooting a "$600" scope. Take care of it as you do your rifle and you will do no harm to it. You have enhanced the value of both the rifle and the scope by putting them together. It is a nice looking set-up. Thanks for the nice pics!

FWIW,

Emri