doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Lyman 48 for Sedgley project

Marty, If someone will volunteer to post pictures, I'll mail him prints to scan. Thanks for your interest.

Not a conversion picture but one of the sight, if in fact accurately so: Lyman 48C, sold out of Montana last week for $270... (but not to me!!). Is this the described "later (but earlier than the 1940/50's) offered version with larger target-style knobs and 1/3-minute clicks," with a shorter slide and curved bottom?

IMO this sight has standard (for the time) knobs and probably has the standard 1/2-minute clicks. Impossible to tell about the clicks without close examination. I'll try to see if I have some examples of the early target-style knobs for a photo later today. This sight would be proper for an early 1922, but IMO was overpriced by $100-$150 or so.....

A few decades ago Sarco was selling some 48Cs that had their apertures cut down to make a notch, apparently for machine gunnery practice. I have the parts necessary to convert back to the original aperture if anyone needs them.
Regards, Joe

Here's a pic of some of the variations. On the left the 2 different styles of vertical adjustment screws are shown while on the right are contrasted 2 of the different-styled knobs.


Please note that the vertical adjustment screws were originally left-hand with rather coarse thread and also had their bottom ends made captive to the back of the slide while the later screws are finer-threaded in the right-hand direction and are not captive. I don't know the exact transition date but 'assume' it's ~1945 or so. The horizontal screws underwent a similar transition.

The knobs are both prewar and it's easy to see which is the taller 'target' configuration. Sorry I don't have a target horizontal knob to show, but it's slightly thicker than the standard one with more-pronounced knurls.
HTH, regards, Joe

Why did Lyman make the very long slides for the 48? And why install one on a hunting rifle? I have a middle length slide on my 1922. I shoot it regularly with target ammo at 200 yards and only use about 1/3 to 1/2 of the slide. Does a 30-06 target rifle with iron sights shot at very long ranges need to use the very long slide?

Might, if low velocity ammo is being used.

My assumption was that the Lyman folks wanted to offer the same capabilities as the issue military version, with a sight graduated out to ridiculous ranges.
Regards, Joe

Stroebel's Old Gunsights book talks of three "variations" of the Lyman 48. I've a No. 48 WJS, 3rd variation currently listed in ebay.

BTW; This is the Centennial year for the sight first introduced July 11, 1911.
Let's throw a party!! A long one, or a short, radiused variation for those of us that don't want to alter the stock?
I'll bring the vodka & lemonade...

I'm a little jammed up here and do not have any time for a few days but there is more to this 48 stuff and well worth dissecting it.

Prototype 48

There may be only 3 MAJOR variations but there are a few more minor but yet significant ones as well. Ones I've observed:

1 - super-long slide (175?) with folding peep and screw-in disc
2 - long slide (125?) with folding peep and screw-in disc
3 - long slide with screw-in disc but no folding peep
4 - long slide with target knobs and 1/3-minute clicks

all above are prewar 'full-block' with captive elevation screws

5 - long slide(60), 1/4-min clicks, full-block non-captive screw, prewar style knobs
6 - short slide(60 with flat bottom), 1/2-block, target knobs
7 - short slide as above with hunter/stayset knobs

In addition to the above I believe that Michael owns at least 2 versions of the #1 super-long slide model and I also seem to remember having owned more than one version of #s 2 & 3 above myself, with very minor differences. These remarks apply only to the 48S and 48C, 48 sights for other models may differ.
Regards, Joe