RedRoyRegulator
Super member
I have a few collectible scopes ranging from BSA, Weaver, Webley, Parker hale & now my latest find is this nice old vintage Winchester No.3 with 2 3/4 x zoom dating from the 1930’s
Winchester first offered the A5 & B style scopes which are better known & more common than the No.3 & No.5 The A5 & B style scopes were offered from 1909 to August 1928 Style B was dropped in 1917. The Style A5 drawings, manufacturing rights, and tooling were sold to the Lyman Gun Sight Corporation in 1928. Lyman began production on its 5A scope shortly thereafter. The Winchester Style A and B scopes are easily distinguished as they have Winchester markings and on the scope tubes
Lyman scope
Winchester A5 scope
Winchester was looking for another supplier of telescope sights as early as 1935. By August 1937, Winchester had found an outside supplier I believe was “Carolyn and Saymon-Brown” who manufactured optical devices & advertised work for screw machines, lathes & milling, scopes were being delivered and rifles were being supplied.
The telescopic sights were available in 2 3/4-power, 5-power, and 8-power. The 5-power and 8-power scopes had fixed crosshair reticles only, while the 2 3/4-power scopes had either crosshairs or post reticle. Precise click elevation and windage knobs on the mounts are used to adjust the scope. The 2 3/4-power scope is 14 inches long the 5-power scope measure 16 inches, and the 8-power is 18 1/2 inches
These scope tubes are not marked with power variant. Most, but not all are marked on the adjustable tube rings with the power. In addition to the variability in power markings, there are differences in construction. The scope tubes are 3/4 inch in diameter and are made of japanned brass painted black.
The front & rear mounts have a securing screw that clamps the scope tube to the mount as the recoil of the model 67 & 68 rifles it was intended for was light enough that the scope does not have to slide in its mounts as the earlier A5 did when used on high power rifles.
The model 67 & 68 rifle was produced in 1934-1941 by January 1939 only the 5x scope was offered. The front mount used with the 2 3/4- power and 5-power scopes is marked "WINCHESTER/ TRADE MARK/U.S.A. PAT. PEND." The 8-power scope front mount is not marked and is constructed differently
No.3 front scope mount stamp markings
8x front scope mounts
Based on observations, the 2 3/4-power scope with post is the rarest. It is followed by the 2 3/4-power scope with crosshairs and the 8-power scope, and, finally, the 5-power scope. All are rare & very scarce.
Winchester first offered the A5 & B style scopes which are better known & more common than the No.3 & No.5 The A5 & B style scopes were offered from 1909 to August 1928 Style B was dropped in 1917. The Style A5 drawings, manufacturing rights, and tooling were sold to the Lyman Gun Sight Corporation in 1928. Lyman began production on its 5A scope shortly thereafter. The Winchester Style A and B scopes are easily distinguished as they have Winchester markings and on the scope tubes
Lyman scope
Winchester A5 scope
The telescopic sights were available in 2 3/4-power, 5-power, and 8-power. The 5-power and 8-power scopes had fixed crosshair reticles only, while the 2 3/4-power scopes had either crosshairs or post reticle. Precise click elevation and windage knobs on the mounts are used to adjust the scope. The 2 3/4-power scope is 14 inches long the 5-power scope measure 16 inches, and the 8-power is 18 1/2 inches
These scope tubes are not marked with power variant. Most, but not all are marked on the adjustable tube rings with the power. In addition to the variability in power markings, there are differences in construction. The scope tubes are 3/4 inch in diameter and are made of japanned brass painted black.
The front & rear mounts have a securing screw that clamps the scope tube to the mount as the recoil of the model 67 & 68 rifles it was intended for was light enough that the scope does not have to slide in its mounts as the earlier A5 did when used on high power rifles.
No.3 front scope mount stamp markings
8x front scope mounts
Based on observations, the 2 3/4-power scope with post is the rarest. It is followed by the 2 3/4-power scope with crosshairs and the 8-power scope, and, finally, the 5-power scope. All are rare & very scarce.
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I won’t say how much I paid for it
let’s just say it cost less than 20 cigs 
