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November 7, 2015
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Icing on the cake, Ian. An honest rifle that “letters”. I recently discovered that I have a certain affection for the 38-55 cartridge so I’ve gotta ask; have you shot it yet?
Mike
TXGunNut said
Icing on the cake, Ian. An honest rifle that “letters”. I recently discovered that I have a certain affection for the 38-55 cartridge so I’ve gotta ask; have you shot it yet?
No, but I’ll certainly get around to it sooner or later.
Online
mrcvs said
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
I received the factory letter for the rifle posted in Post #1 of this thread.
Serial number applied 28 Sept 1905
Rifle
.38/55
Round barrel
Plain trigger
Plain, pistol grip stock
Sights: Lyman front & flat-top sporting rear sight for smokeless
1/2 magazine
Rubber plate
Nickel steel
Received in warehouse on 11 October 1905
Shipped from warehouse on 11 October 1905
Order number 29684
You did very well… It appears that the rifle matches the letter perfectly!
Thank you, Bert.
I guess this is the flat-too sporting rear sight for smokeless? I wouldn’t be able to describe it as such without the letter.
It is the elevator that makes it a “smokeless” sight. The sight is the same regardless of the powder type. The height of the steps on the elevator are different for black powder versus smokeless.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
I received the factory letter for the rifle posted in Post #1 of this thread.
Serial number applied 28 Sept 1905
Rifle
.38/55
Round barrel
Plain trigger
Plain, pistol grip stock
Sights: Lyman front & flat-top sporting rear sight for smokeless
1/2 magazine
Rubber plate
Nickel steel
Received in warehouse on 11 October 1905
Shipped from warehouse on 11 October 1905
Order number 29684
You did very well… It appears that the rifle matches the letter perfectly!
Thank you, Bert.
I guess this is the flat-too sporting rear sight for smokeless? I wouldn’t be able to describe it as such without the letter.
It is the elevator that makes it a “smokeless” sight. The sight is the same regardless of the powder type. The height of the steps on the elevator are different for black powder versus smokeless.
Bert
Yes, I was aware of the height of the steps on the elevator being different for black powder vs smokeless.
My inability to describe as such was the “flat-top” description. What does that mean?
Also, the Lyman front sight is missing the ivory bead. Any ideas where to locate replacement ivory and how to affix in place properly?
Photographs of this uploaded at the very start of this entire post and I’m not sure why?
The top rear section of the sight is flat versus a rounded contour… it is that simple. Thanks to Obama, real authentic Ivory is a controlled item these days, so your only real option is a find a piece of faux ivory and use it to fashion a replacement bead.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
Offline
Low-tech faux ivory might be to polish the tine of a white plastic fork to the proper size, slice it off and glue it into place.
Mike
TXGunNut said
Low-tech faux ivory might be to polish the tine of a white plastic fork to the proper size, slice it off and glue it into place.
Unless I find real ivory, I’ll do without. The way to find it might be from an existing sight on eBay.
What held these in place originally? Despite mine not being present, I think the failure rate is low as it’s uncommon to find the ivory insert absent.
mrcvs said
TXGunNut said
Low-tech faux ivory might be to polish the tine of a white plastic fork to the proper size, slice it off and glue it into place.
Unless I find real ivory, I’ll do without. The way to find it might be from an existing sight on eBay.
What held these in place originally? Despite mine not being present, I think the failure rate is low as it’s uncommon to find the ivory insert absent.
Warthog tusks are pretty close, have the right color tone, fairly easy to come by and are not regulated.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Suggest you ask Mark Douglas direct what he does use. I have a few scraps from legal sources that made jewelry. Way more than I can ever use. Look me up at Cody and maybe we can share some of the pieces IF I remember to bring them (or remember what “good spot” I last put them in!). Getting about impossible for me to turn out a nice bead now days anyway. Tim
JWA said
Warthog tusks are pretty close, have the right color tone, fairly easy to come by and are not regulated.
Hippo tusks, likewise legal, had the reputation of being preferable to elephant ivory for sights because (supposedly) it did not yellow.
mrcvs said
What held these in place originally? Despite mine not being present, I think the failure rate is low as it’s uncommon to find the ivory insert absent.
Believe on your sight it was nothing but friction, as it was supposed to be possible to push up ivory cylinder from bottom if it became worn or discolored; maybe that was possible when it was new, but after a few decades it usually becomes stuck in place, leading me to suspect this one was removed deliberately.
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