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August 12, 2017
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I recently picked up a plain and well-used 1912 Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine chambered in .30 WCF. The rear sight is missing and there is a Lyman tang sight which was almost surely added later. I’d like to know which sights were mostly likely on this carbine at the time of its original manufacture. I’ve looked in a 1911 WRA Co. catalog and through the Winchester 1894 Sights Project thread here, but am still unsure.
If I were to attempt to restore this carbine to some sights that are likely to more closely resemble it’s original equipment, where should I look to acquire them (including a replacement vintage upper tang screw and a peep sight plug screw)?
Thanks very much.
April 15, 2005
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Winchester used the No. 44A Carbine sight or the No. 34C 3-leaf Express sight.
No. 44A sight
No. 34C sight
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
August 12, 2017
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Thanks Bert. Might you have any insight as to when, where and why the 44A vs. 34C were used?
Also, the serial number is 552987. The story was it spent most (all?) of its life in the Santa Clara Valley.
April 15, 2005
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Aleck said
Thanks Bert. Might you have any insight as to when, where and why the 44A vs. 34C were used?
Also, the serial number is 552987. The story was it spent most (all?) of its life in the Santa Clara Valley.
In answer to your question “when”, the No. 44A Carbine ladder sight was the standard sight for the Model 1894 from its inception in September 1894 through May 1932. The No. 34C 3-leaf Express sight was the optional rear sight during that same time period.
Your question “where” used makes no sense. There is no answer for “why” they were used other than they were the sights that Winchester used on all of their various lever-action Carbine models (1873, 1892, and 1894).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
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There seems to be no signs the carbine ever had a barrel sight installed. Is that a possiblity? RDB
April 15, 2005
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rogertherelic said
There seems to be no signs the carbine ever had a barrel sight installed. Is that a possiblity? RDB
Yes, but Winchester would have put a blank piece in the dovetail slot versus leaving it empty.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
August 12, 2017
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Bert H. said
rogertherelic said
There seems to be no signs the carbine ever had a barrel sight installed. Is that a possiblity? RDB
Yes, but Winchester would have put a blank piece in the dovetail slot versus leaving it empty.
Bert
Thanks Roger and Bert. I, too, was wondering about the rear sight.
FWIW, here are a couple of higher resolution photos.
April 15, 2005
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I can see a slight rub mark (wear) on the top of the barrel halfway between the dovetail and the frame ring. The rear sight was apparently removed fairly early in the Carbines lifetime. If the gun were mine, I would find a No. 34C 3-leaf express sight to put back in the empty slot.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
August 12, 2017
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Bert H. said
I can see a slight rub mark (wear) on the top of the barrel halfway between the dovetail and the frame ring. The rear sight was apparently removed fairly early in the Carbines lifetime. If the gun were mine, I would find a No. 34C 3-leaf express sight to put back in the empty slot.
Bert
Thanks. I’m on the hunt for one!
April 15, 2005
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Aleck said
Bert H. said
I can see a slight rub mark (wear) on the top of the barrel halfway between the dovetail and the frame ring. The rear sight was apparently removed fairly early in the Carbines lifetime. If the gun were mine, I would find a No. 34C 3-leaf express sight to put back in the empty slot.
Bert
Thanks. I’m on the hunt for one!
Get in touch with Ben Tolson (here on the WACA forums), he is our resident sight hound.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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