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There’s still a lot of interest in the guns of the “Old West”, especially the early Winchester lever-action rifles and carbines. Anyone with a few extra bucks can now own a “mint condition” modern reproduction of a brass or steel framed Henry, the “Yellowboy” brass framed Model 1866, a faithful copy of the Model 1873 rifle that “Won the West”, its bigger brother the Model 1876, a big bore Model 1886, or the sleek Model 1892. Winchester has even introduced an all new “Sporting Rifle” version of the Model 1894. Unfortunately, by the time many shooters can scrape together enough extra cash these days to purchase one of these gems, they’re into their 50s…60s…or 70s – and their eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be. Seeing and using those open sights becomes a real hurdle.
Hanging a modern style scope on these guns just doesn’t look right, and due to the top ejection of fired cases with all of these early Winchester style lever guns, that scope cannot be mounted directly over the top of the receiver. The older style short Wm. Malcolm scopes and mounts now available from Hi-Lux Optics can be the solution to both dilemmas.
Available in choice of 3x or 6x, the 3/4″ diameter steel tube Malcolm scopes are of late 1880s-early 1890s styling, and are a great match for early top-eject lever rifles. Hi-Lux Optics has also developed mounts that make it easy to offset these scopes just enough to allow ejected cases to clear. The mounts for the 1873 and 1876 models require absolutely no gunsmithing (no drilling and tapping) . The front mount utilizes the dovetail cut for the rear sight, while the rear mount requires the sliding dust cover to be removed from the rifle, then it attaches to the receiver using the raised and bevel-edged rail for the cover. The mounts for Models 1886, 1892 and 1894 will require having the receiver drilled and tapped for attaching the off-set rear mount. Likewise, any knowledgeable gunsmith can use these mounts for scoping the Henry or Model 1866 copies.
The accompanying photo shows the 19-inch long 6x short Wm. Malcolm scope aboard a Chiappa Model 1876, using the Hi-Lux Optics ’73/’76 mounts.
The scopes are backed with a Limited Lifetime Warranty and retails @ $299.00 for the 3x and $325.00 for the 6x.
For more information on the Wm. Malcolm scopes and mounts, visit the Hi-Lux Optics website at www.hi-luxoptics.com, or send an e-mail to info@hi-luxoptics.com.