If you look at the original US Ordnance photos of the M1903A4 (probably taken before they realized they could not get enough M73 Alaskans and had to go with the less good Weaver M73B1 to get the rifles into service) the Alaskan/M73/M81/M82 was always intended to be mounted forward in the rings, and in that position it clears the safety fine.
The Alaskan has plenty of eye relief, and there is no reason to mount it back over the safety - also, mounted in the rear position there is a great opportunity to whack you in the eye under recoil. I did the same thing when I built my 03-AForgery, and immediately realized the Army would not issue a rifle that could not engage the safety. I moved it to the intended position and everything made sense. You are mounting the scope wrong if the safety doesn't work. The Alaskan was a far superior scope, but Bausch & Lomb (who supplied the lenses to Lyman for the Alaskan) was too busy with more critical optical demands (like Submarine periscopes) to provide the optical glass and the Weaver was "what was available". Note the M73 "B1" designator - not the first choice......CC
Last edited by Col. Colt; 06-22-2018 at 12:24.
Reason: Additonal info
Colt, Glock and Remington factory trained LE Armorer
LE Trained Firearms Instructor