I like old scopes, and always looking for odd ones, or ones made early, or by small makers. Yesterday at our OAC monthly collector gun show I heard a friend who has a table behind me ask another friend if he was interested in an old target scope. Of course my ears perked up, and I turned around to maybe see what I was missing out on!
I couldn't see what they were looking at, but I saw a plain brown cardboard scope box, which intrigued me. As they talked the other friend passed on the scope, and I asked if I could look at it, and not step on any toes, or be butting in. Both fellas were fine with it, so I was handed the scope box. Inside was a brand new Lyman Targetspot that appeared to have either never been used, or used very little. It had the Pope rail on the bottom of the tube, which also indicated a very early scope; and the box end label said Targetspot, not Junior or Super Targetspot.
The label read 10x, and the price was $60, with application showing "Lo W 52" on it. Guessing that might mean a Winchester Winder Musket or a 52? 
No serial number at all on it, which further indicates a very early Lyman. I think this may be a first year Lyman Targetspot. The only Lyman I've ever seen in a plain brown cardboard box, as all I've owned were orange cardboard boxes with the reinforced metal corners. 
The box is missing the drill bit, taps, bases, and instructions, but otherwise a pretty nice old scope and box.

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Did you buy it? Priced well?

I'm guessing the rear sliding mount is a 4-point Winchester style scope mount rather than the newer 3 point and should have the  Winchester style pin base attachment mount rather than the standard or posa ? That is the way my pre-war 8X Targetspot is set up. I was told mine dates 1936-1939. Steve Earle standard barrel mounts work with it.
Flatlander

marlinguy wrote on Nov 27^th, 2023 at 9:52pm:


All three were available at one time in their lineup.
My 10x Targetspot is a later with top rib.ive never seen one like yours! Cool really early one!

According to Lyman, the Targetspot was discontinued in 1948. This from their 1878-1978 Centennial Journal.

What is the actual title of the Lyman history publication

Rick

I totally forgot about the 100th Anniversary Lyman book, and I have one on my book shelves! Guess I'll have to give it a look and see if it has any references or old ads printed that might reveal the prices for certain years?
Haven't gotten any response from Lyman Products yet, and who knows when or if I will?

In a 1936 Stoeger's Shooters Bible, the Lyman Targetspot was listed at $60 for either the 8x or10x.

rkba2nd wrote on Nov 30^th, 2023 at 8:08pm:


Thanks. Mine is a 4 point mount, so guessing it is still pretty early.
I've read here and there that some didn't get a serial number, but no mention of whether that was early, or a random mistake.

I just found the first (1937) reference to a special price to remodel your Targetspot to a Super Targetspot. Not free as I had heard. No mention of the cost. This being the year the Super was introduced, there may have been a change at a later date, though doubtful.

If there is, I am not aware of it. I might talk to Lyman to see if they have kept records of serial numbers and dates, and whether each model was numbered separately. It has been a long time since Lyman produced scopes, the Targetspots in particular, and when the family was no longer affiliated, interest in history of the company most likely lost importance. Optics have always held my interest, so I will continue to see what I can find. There were a few others here in the past, who were very knowledgeable, but have not been aware of any posts by them, most noteably Redsetter. I may not have his screen name right, but close, and would love to hear from him.

rkba2nd wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2023 at 7:47pm:


Redsetter was very knowledgeable in many areas and had quite a collection of original catalogs. He worried about what would happen to them once he was gone.

His last post here was on April 11, 2019. Someone (maybe a friend or family member?) was online on October 27, 2021. I suspect he is no longer with us. 

He, like many others, will be missed.   

flatlander  I do recall that Parsons had in deed purchased the remaining parts inventory from Lyman, but not that he aquired the records. I will check with his son in that regard. Thanks for pointing that out.

In 1939, $15 was a bit of money. 

My dad bought a new Ford that year for, I think $625

Geez, what a bunch of whiners. A new Super Targetspot was $75, so $15 dollars seems pretty reasonable to me, and judging by the numbers with the  conversion, was to many at the time. The work involved was considerable. Replacing lenses alone would involve a fair amount of work. It would be interesting to know what the lenses from Bausch and Lomb cost. Power increase from 8 0r 10 to 15 was substantial. How much do you spend on your hobby? Now my turn to quit whining.

Just to whine, a little more, we were on the gold standard in '39 and gold was $32 oz so, the upgrade was almost a 1/2 oz of gold.

And see what you can hit with a 1/2 ounce of gold.

What the heck does all this talk of precious metals and the economy have to  do with Lyman scopes?

I would not part with my STS 20X full stop! But if I had to here in OZ $2000, a u. Albeit they are as rare as rocking horse do do here!   
           Cheers Mal in au.

Apparently enough to keep Lyman in business. And the farm boy was saving up to buy fifty 22 long rifle cartridges, not Super Targetspots. These were primarily for serious riflemen. Good night all.

Sort of, but not now, Please read above.

Green_Frog wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 2:33pm:


I've known Nick, and dealt/traded with him for decades, until he got on Ebay and then it all ended. I bought both his scope book, and iron sight books when they came out from Nick, and he autographed them for me. At the time his scope and sight books were the only resource around, and appeared to be excellent. But as time went by and I got deeper into rare old scopes I realized how lacking his book was on details, and omissions completely of some very nice and rare scopes and their makers.
The sight book is about the same deal. Until the latest book "American Rifle Sights" by Tom Rowe came out Nick's book was pretty good, but it quickly got eclipsed by Rowe's book which has much more info, and way higher quality illustrations.
It still takes a huge amount of effort to ferret out information on a lot of the old scopes, as it's a topic nobody has really delved deeply into. Considering the prices some of the most rare and highest quality scopes get, I would hope someday someone will do the topic right.

Initially they were offered in 10, 12, and 15, Same as the Super Targetspots, when first offered in 1937. Not sure, but would assume they would offer higher powers as they were introduced. Also, at this point, not sure how long the service was offered.

The earliest ads I've found were dated 1934 and showed only 10x & 12x Targetspots. I think higher powers weren't offered until the Supers and Juniors came around in 1937.

Dredging this old post up again as I got another old Lyman Targetspot, but this one is a Super Targetspot 10x. I actually got it back in August at our annual OAC 2 day collector show from a gentleman walking around with it. It was very cheap, and appears to have never been mounted on a pair of bases.
In my excitement to buy it I checked crosshairs and saw the optics were perfect and paid him. I set it aside until just recently when I decided to put it on a rifle. That's when I realized why it was cheap. Every turret was froze up, as were both clamp knobs! Even trying to persuade them with rubber around the knobs and pliers they weren't moving! I finally disassembled the mounts and soaked them for two days in mineral spirits and they eventually freed up! Unfortunately during the process my fat fingers touched the crosshairs and they broke, so had to get them repaired.
The scope bases show no sign at all of ever having been slid on a base. The entire scope finish is as new. I was surprised when I removed the reticle cell that it's aluminum instead of brass as all others I've owned were. Serial number is 26245, which is the highest number I've personally seen. I understand Gil Parson had all the Lyman records, and used to charge to lookup serial number info. I also heard his wife and son still have the records, but no longer provide this service.
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Schutzenbob wrote on Dec 13^th, 2025 at 2:50pm:


First thing I tried was Kroil on adjusters and base clamps, but no luck. The base clamps thread into a blind hole, and no way to back the screw out to get to the inside opening of the hole for Kroil to get in. 
Bob Seipp the scope repair guy told me to just drop the whole mounts into mineral spirits as he said they used something close to lithium grease on all adjusters and base clamps, and after setting many decades it turns to varnish. That worked to free them, and then I put Kroil on the threads to make them operate even better.