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I’ve wondered, if you add a period correct & close matching tang sight to a lettered rifle(that didn’t have it from the factory), does it add, decrease, or do anything to the value?
AG
A added tang sight will not decrease value at all and sometimes it doesn’t add to it either depending on the tang sight. If its a good vernier or graduated peep it probably will help its value. Many dealers will remove a tang sight if it does not letter since they don’t get any more for the gun with it on and they can sell them on the side. What will hurt the value a little is when a tang sight is removed from a gun that had one for a long time and there is a shadow where it was. Years ago a buyer would ask the seller to remove a sight if they knocked off the price of the gun enough. You could buy many high condition tang sight at the time on Ebay and at the shows.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Thanks Bob. I’ve been wondering about this. Appreciate the info.
AG
I should add that I don’t buy a gun with a tang sight unless I remove it and check for extra holes under it. Its a trick used by some sellers to hide a extra hole in the top tang and sometimes they locktite the screws so you can’t remove it easily. Now if I’m buying from a known seller that I trust he will stand behind it I will wait until I get home. I have found a few guns like that.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Adding or removing tang sights on Winchesters presents a problem not encountered with most other makes, which used separate screws to attach the sight base. Winchester’s use of the lower tang screw was a good idea, in that it provided a stronger attachment, but had the drawback of requiring a special screw, that might not be readily available; which is why you see many sight bases that have the rear hole wallowed out to accept the regular screw. The repro tang screws I’ve used in the past never look exactly right, though maybe better screws are available now.
1873man said
I should add that I don’t buy a gun with a tang sight unless I remove it and check for extra holes under it.
A smart idea I WISH I’d thought of before I bought the Low Wall shown on p. 58, 108, & 109 in Campbell’s 1st vol. However, the sight wasn’t lock-tighted, so I’ll assume the dealer was also ignorant of the extra hole–drilled right into the markings, of course, so un-fixable.
clarence said
Adding or removing tang sights on Winchesters presents a problem not encountered with most other makes, which used separate screws to attach the sight base. Winchester’s use of the lower tang screw was a good idea, in that it provided a stronger attachment, but had the drawback of requiring a special screw, that might not be readily available; which is why you see many sight bases that have the rear hole wallowed out to accept the regular screw. The repro tang screws I’ve used in the past never look exactly right, though maybe better screws are available now.
I collect the 73’s which use the separate small holes but I’m always finding the sight base thats been drilled out like you said so they fit a later guns with the large stock screw.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 7, 2015
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As long as the tang isn’t damaged by the addition of the sight I’d say that in my case it adds to the value. I usually like to shoot my old Winchesters and a tang sight catches my eye because I won’t have to add a modern tang sight to shoot it well. That, and I like correct tang sights. If it doesn’t “letter” it may find it’s way onto another rifle because for some collectors an incorrect sight adds little to the value.
Mike
TXGunNut said
If it doesn’t “letter” it may find it’s way onto another rifle because for some collectors an incorrect sight adds little to the value.
IF it letters (an uncommon situation!), that’s great, but if it doesn’t, that’s STILL great, & I think it’s inappropriate to call it “incorrect.” How could Lyman & Marbles have stayed in business if they only provided sights for factory installation? They couldn’t! Most Winchesters were purchased from local sporting goods dealers, hardware stores, etc., not ordered from the factory, so if such buyers were intelligent enough to want a tang sight, it HAD to be installed outside the factory.
Sights got changed all the time on those guns just like they are today. If you bought a new deer rifle today the first thing you do is put a scope on it if it didn’t come with one or change it if you miss a deer.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
When I hang an antique Winchester rifle on the wall it just looks better with a period correct, condition matching tang sight. I save the old screws and am careful not to leave any marks. When it comes time to sell I can remove it or make it part of the deal. If it looks likes it belongs usually the retail buyer is willing to pay the extra, dealers don’t. If I wholesale to a dealer I take it off before I show it to the dealer. T/R
TR said
When I hang an antique Winchester rifle on the wall it just looks better with a period correct, condition matching tang sight. I save the old screws and am careful not to leave any marks. When it comes time to sell I can remove it or make it part of the deal. If it looks likes it belongs usually the retail buyer is willing to pay the extra, dealers don’t. If I wholesale to a dealer I take it off before I show it to the dealer. T/R
10 of my rifles I acquired tang sights for that did not letter & I agree with Clarence it’s uncommon so “most” are an add on. I’m also on the same page as TR in all aspects.
AG
From my research on 73’s about 4% of the letters have sights listed.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
From my research on 73’s about 4% of the letters have sights listed.Bob
Definitely supports uncommon. I’ve only ever seen two rifles that lettered with tang sights & both were Deluxe 86’s. Thanks for the info Bob.
AG
My M1885 in 22 short came with a Midrange Vernier that is lettered to the rifle. It also has the correct vintage Sporting rear sight which gets in the way of the Vernier when shooting, so I took it off and put a Winchester plug in. Now, it will shoot great groups at 50 yards and keep 10 for 10 in the 10 ring. Big Larry
1873man said
I should add that I don’t buy a gun with a tang sight unless I remove it and check for extra holes under it. Its a trick used by some sellers to hide a extra hole in the top tang and sometimes they locktite the screws so you can’t remove it easily. Now if I’m buying from a known seller that I trust he will stand behind it I will wait until I get home. I have found a few guns like that.Bob
I highly recommend this. Have seen this more than once. I am always glad to get a better period correct sight when I find a gun.
Big Larry said
My M1885 in 22 short came with a Midrange Vernier that is lettered to the rifle. It also has the correct vintage Sporting rear sight which gets in the way of the Vernier when shooting, so I took it off and put a Winchester plug in.
WRA charged extra not to cut the rear sight slot, & I think offered no deduction for the value of the rear sight, when a tang sight was ordered.
clarence said
Big Larry said
My M1885 in 22 short came with a Midrange Vernier that is lettered to the rifle. It also has the correct vintage Sporting rear sight which gets in the way of the Vernier when shooting, so I took it off and put a Winchester plug in.WRA charged extra not to cut the rear sight slot, & I think offered no deduction for the value of the rear sight, when a tang sight was ordered.
This rifle has 5 special order features, all of which are listed on my letter. This already made the rifle a bit more expensive and the rear sight just got in the way. He may have removed it a time or two to take advantage of the Vernier, but put it back by the time I got the rifle. It also has a globe front sight, worthless with a Sporting rear sight. A delete rear sight slot may have cost him a couple bucks more for that, but the super sights were not usuable with the Sporting rear. Also, he could have put a plug in the slot which he did not do. This rifle is a 22 short, and is extremely accurate at 50 yards. Big Larry
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