Well, since no one has answered yet I’m going to submit this information, some from 1894s, and if someone else has the answers they can correct and I can learn something too.  Hopefully I’m not hijacking your original post too much.

Front sight could be a 21A or a 21C if High Velocity ammunition is used.  A 21A front sight has an overall height of .358 and a 21C has the .381 height you mentioned. 

I have also found tin tipped and Nov.4 ’02 patent date stamped Sporting Front Sights scattered on 1894 Deluxe, Standard Sporting Rifles and 1894 Carbines between 1910-1920.  The George Madis Sight Book identifies the dovetail sights as the 21K (which is in all other respects has the same dimensions as a 21A) and the 21L (which is in all other respects the same as a 21C).  I would be interested to know if this pattern exists on 1892s also.

I personally would not be afraid to substitute the Winchester front sight with a period Lyman front sight, like a No.3, No.4 or No.5, either if you had one and it looked right on the gun.  It might not be standard but would be period correct for a replacement.

For rear sights I see a lot of flat top Sporting Rear Sights starting around 1915 in my 1894 survey.  They are referred to as the 22A, but also sometimes just the Sporting Rear Sight which leads me to believe that was the accepted style of a standard rear sight on some models for a time.  The notes in George Madis’ Sight Book states the 22A has a top that is cut “straight & horizontal and sighting notch changed from “v” to “u” form, adjusting slide & binding screw omitted” starting in 2/23/14.  I have Model 1894s in my survey with the 22B semi-buckhorn rear sights in this period also, among other sights, but I see a lot of the flat top sights after 1914.

It would be interesting to know if the 1892 aficionados here have noted these sights or sight changes on their guns and if this crossed over between 1894s and 1892s.

Thanks,

Brad

There are several versions of them, whether they be carbine blades, Winchester Express Front Sights and also the Sporting Front Sights that I have seen on 1892s and 1894s.  These are on 1894s.  The Madis Sight Book lists this particular type as for 1873s and 1892s for “South American Trade”.  I personally believe they were more widely used and I can’t see why they wouldn’t end up on an 1894 or other model also if the  dimensions were correct for the caliber and the sights were available.

There were flat top rear sights before then, I just think they were used more by the teens.  Not just by Winchester either.  I suppose it was a popular trend for a time.

The older gun writers did not like the buckhorn rear sight.  One of my favorite books is The American Rifle by Townsend Whelen.  It was first published in 1918 and I believe he spent many years writing it.  He had firsthand knowledge of the rifles we now collect and that is a big reason why I enjoy reading the book so much, besides the fact he was a good writer and by the accounts I’ve read from Jack O’Connor to David Petzal, he was very honest and one of the good guys.  If you go to the chapter on sights he gets right into it and is using illustrations from the WRACo catalogs.  Whether you agree or disagree, he is giving the reader firsthand knowledge from the time period.

I also agree that it would be logical for Winchester to use the same sight in as many applications as possible if it fit the application.

Brad

Thanks supergimp, that’s where I first started reading it.  When a 1st printing of it came around on ebay cheap, I decided to get the book.  He talks so highly about the Model 1885 and his personal Model 1885 in 30-40 that I can’t believe Bert doesn’t have a link to it in his signature

Brad