I recently bought a Hoffman Arms rifle built on a M98 Masuer action which I believe to be FN with a FN serial number of 93,389.

The action is set up for a rear reciever sight that is missing. I bought a vintage Lyman 48M sight but the mounting holes on the sight are slighlty too far apart. The sight is about .61 inches apart center of the hole to center and my reciever is about .57.

Any ideas? Might it have had a different brand rear sight?

I would get on line to Brownell's and ask their tech support folks. Given the vintage of the rifle I am surprised the Lyman 48M does not fit.

I will give that a shot. I just can't figure this out. I have pictures of other Hoffmans and they all have Lyman 48s. I picked one up today that is even prewar but it just doesn't line up.

Thanks

Check the William's catalog. I think it lists two different Fool proof receiver sights for the military bolt guns and the commercial FN.
The commercial FN was drilled and tapped at the FN factory with a different hole spacing than the standard used in the US by Lyman. If you find an ancient Lyman catalog it may list two different sights one for the FN and one for the non drilled and tapped rifles.
There is nothing wrong with your rifle it is just a commercial FN action.

I am puzzled at the idea of a Hoffman rifle on a commercial FN action since Hoffman went out of business in the 1920s and so far as I know all their Mausers were on Oberndorf actions.

quote:

Originally posted by vigillinus:
I am puzzled at the idea of a Hoffman rifle on a commercial FN action since Hoffman went out of business in the 1920s and so far as I know all their Mausers were on Oberndorf actions.

You are correct and I am wrong I incorrectly assumed commercial and FN were one in the same. It is in fact an Oberndorf action.

Two Right side mounted Peep sight sets were also popular during this era.
They are the Redfield Model 70 and 80M sight. If a Lyman Block is not a correct fit it might have been set up for one of these Redfields.

Best of luck with your issue.

Hansel