Stevens Walnut Hill rifle needs sights

jag312

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I've had the opportunity to look at a Stevens 417 1/2 Walnut Hill rifle in .22 LR that is missing it's sights. Does anyone know which front and rear sights were originally used? Were they unique to Stevens, or were they commonly available sights like Marbles or Lyman?
 
The old single-shot rifles could be ordered with a wide array of sight options. Rear sights were usually tang mounted, adjustable for windage and elevation. Front sights could be bead, globe or spirit level. You could probably get almost anything.
I'm a member of the American Single-Shot Rifle Association. Their E-mail is [email protected]. I'm sure someone there would be happy to help you.
 
Lyman 17A front sight
Lyman 48L (receiver) for the rear sight.

For the 417/418 models of the Walnut Hill rifle.

From the info I have.

I think an extended rear adjustable 'peep' sight was also offered, but I can't find info on it.


Added:
The extended rear adj peep sight option was the 'Lyman 52L Extended Recv'r Sight'.


AFAIK the Walnut Hill rifles didn't come with a tang sight. It used the Lyman '48L' Micrometer adj rear sight attached to the left side of the rec'vr wall.
The 52L sight extension attached to the same position and placed the micrometer sight about 3 inches to the rear for the shooter.

They were all made on the Model 44 action but nicely fitted for better accuracy
These versions (417, 418, 417 1/2, 418 1/2) are 1930's made rifles and discontinued just after WW2.

An early single shot Stevens made Walnut Hill model was made on the 44 1/2 action,,a completely different rifle (pre-1915)

These 417/418 model rifles are actually Savage manufacture as Savage bought out Stevens in the early 1920's, but kept their name as part of their mfg'rg & marketing. Used their old factory too.

Early Stevens tang sights used a very small screw for mounting. IIRC it's a #4-48.
I don't recall the 417/418 as being D&T for tang sight but anything is possible with the Stevens/Savage single shots.
I think the 414 Armory Rifle was discontinued when these were introduced. These would be the last of the run of the old Single Shots from them.
Some retro Favorites in the 70's or 80's IIRC
 
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As mentioned there were a variety of sights used on the old Stevens. Marbles and Lyman seem to be the most common. However, be warned, check the dimensions of those dovetails. Many of the old Stevens have over sized dovetails, more like 7/16", not the standard 3/8". I have a model 44 in 32-20 that uses the 7/16" front sight base. The tang sight screws are also encountered in two sizes. When I installed a Lyman tang sight this past month I had to re tap the mounting holes to accept the larger screws that came with the sight.

John
 
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