Thanks TR and Bob, its very much appreciated.  Also enjoyed looking it over with you guys at Tulsa and your comments regarding the rifle. 

Chris

Thanks Mike for your comments. 

There isnt a lot of information out there on the tang sight beyond a brief mention and an accompanying catalog image of the sight.  Its known to collectors, mentioned in Gordon’s books, in Madis’ sight book, and in Stroebel’s book.  In Stroebel’s description for the Graduated Tang Sight-Early Exposed Spring Type it mentions the eyepiece is adjusted for elevation by “loosening”  and then “tightening” to lock the setting in place.  On this particular sight, and others Ive seen since like it since, the eyepiece is adjusted by tension in the staff.  The eyepiece cant be loosened or tightened.  Its a single piece of steel.  

Chuck,  I dont have Rowe’s book to see what he illustrates.  However, there are no markings on the staff or the underside of the sight.

The most information I was able to find was in the Gordon 1873 books.  Evidently the sight was only mentioned in the Win catalogs in 1875 and 1879.  He also mentions they were available for the 1866 and occasionally found on the Henry rifle. And that it is seldom seen on the 1873.  Aside from that I dont know much about them. 

As for the sight in Rowe’s book, is the back side of the aperature the same configuration?

Thanks Bob for the photo of the peep sight with the graduation markings.  The staff and peep look the same with the exception of the one I have doesnt have the graduation marks and as you noted regarding the milling of the back side of the peep so you could set on a graduation mark.  

I dont have the Win Catalogs and was wondering if the catalog distinguished between one with or without the gradated marks or did one simply follow the other in manufacture.  Also, if were both variants offered only up to 1879 in the catalog.  Is there any consensus as to when they were first in production–in other words, were they around long prior to their listing in the 1875 catalog or introduced at the time of the catalog publication? 

Thanks Bob

Chuck,

Yes, Bob sent me a pic. 

In Gordons book, he mentions the the 1879 catalog was the last year the “Peep” sight was listed, but also in the same catalog the Graduated Peep (Old Thick Base), the Vernier Peep (Old Thick Base, Long), and the Winchester Folding Peep are also listed for the same year.  So I would venture to guess that the thick base was the the next design to follow.