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Ok, something not auction related. One thing I like is special order sights. I like odd sights. I am wondering about thoughts and experience on this Marbles, “Special Base Automatic Flexible Joint Rear Sight.” The 1905 Marble’s catalog states, “designed to leave the tang and grip entirely free from any encumbrance what-so-ever. The most valuable feature of a sight so located is that when the gun is brought to the shoulder, the eye is near enough to the sight for instant aim without throwing the head forward and thus losing a valuable moment of time.” Increased sight radius resulting in increased accuracy is also touted.
I apologize for showing a photo of a Marlin and not a Winchester. This is a special order Marlin M1893 .30 WCF carbine with fancy grade wood, hard rubber shotgun butt, half magazine, factory swivels and a standard carbine barrel sight in the rear barrel sight seat. I do not have this particular tang sight on any Winchester I own. I have seen this sight on a relatively small number of Winchester lever action rifles over the years. I recall the sight alone, tempted me to purchase a few guns. I am thinking of a M1894 .38-55 SRC that had this sight. I passed it up but have regretted it ever since.
For me, in most lighting situations, when I throw this carbine up to my shoulder, I can’t see the sight at all. A larger target-style aperture disk solves that.
As I said, I am curious about opinions and experience with this sight. Anyone hunt with one?
steve004 said
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For me, in most lighting situations, when I throw this carbine up to my shoulder, I can’t see the sight at all. A larger target-style aperture disk solves that.
Never used one (though I’d like to), but all you should see is the front sight. Most modern receiver sights on match rifles mount the aperture on an adjustable rod that brings it back as far as the stem of the Marble’s sight.
Don’t think it would be a great idea on a gun of heavy recoil, even though it hinges backwards.
I’ve seen several of these, but never on a Winchester. Most that I have encountered have been on Savage model 99’s. They did make these for various Winchester models including the 1894. The base will be marked W1-S. “S” for Special.
win4575 said
I’ve seen several of these, but never on a Winchester. Most that I have encountered have been on Savage model 99’s. They did make these for various Winchester models including the 1894. The base will be marked W1-S. “S” for Special.
Yes, and the situation on Savage 1899’s, as well as other rifles such as the Ross: the screws were mounted on the top of the wrist area of the stock.
If anyone is interested, I just posted a Marbles W1S sight on the “SWAP MEET” Forum. Roger B
Its called a special base sight. Some times colloquially known as a “farmers” sight??? It has been seen on several Model 55s and 1894/94s.
B
BOBR94 said
Its called a special base sight. Some times known as a “farmers” sight??? It has been seen on several Model 55s and 1894/94s.B
I hadn’t heard of, “farmers” before but if I were a farmer, I can see how I’d like a ’94 carbine with this sight on it.
BOBR94 said
Some times colloquially known as a “farmers” sight???
Very queer name for it, if so. I looked through 6 Lyman catalogs between 1895 & 1940 without finding any description of it, so I wonder how the “farmers” found out about it. My guess is the average farmer probably never owned any rifle with a peep sight on it.
Clarence, I am curious to know why you would look for a MARBLES sight in a Lyman catalog? Roger B
rogertherelic said
Clarence, I am curious to know why you would look for a MARBLES sight in a Lyman catalog? Roger B
My mistake! I just looked it up in a 1905 Marbles cat. that says it was made for the M. ’95 only, though don’t see why it wouldn’t fit any other tang with the same hole spacing.
clarence said
My mistake! I just looked it up in a 1905 Marbles cat. that says it was made for the M. ’95 only, though don’t see why it wouldn’t fit any other tang with the same hole spacing.
Interesting as most M1895’s are not tapped for a tang sight. My vague memory is it is about 1 in 10 are tapped. None of mine are. Not that there wasn’t a, “special base” for the M1895. There were two: the W11S for cartridges .38-72, .40-72 and .405 and, W12S for .30-40 Army, .303, .35 and .30 Gov’t 06. They also made bases for this sight for many other Winchesters, such as, ’94, ’86, various .22’s, 1905, 1907, and 1910. And beyond that, Marlins, Savages, Remingtons, and others. However, as we all know, these are rarely seen on any rifle.
Chuck said
This may not be the exact same sight but here is some info.
It is the same one, & note that the illustration demonstrates the “flexibility” of the regular tang sight when hit by the bolt of a ’95. Why would the factory take away the choice of a customer to mount a tang sight by not D&T the tang like ever other lever gun? The Lyman 21 was popular on ’95s, as well as being a better sight, but still, shouldn’t the customer have a choice without having the trouble D&T his gun, if it was one of the untapped ones Steve referred to?
It’s interesting as the catalog picture of the ’95 shows a standard tang sight mounted, not the flexible base sight. That section of the catalog that shows and outlines the flexible base sight indicates it is for bolt action rifles and there is no mention of an applicability for lever action rifles. And let me add, none of those bolt action rifles the, “special base” sight is listed for – are tapped for that sight. I say that because the special base sight mounts via wood screws in the grip area on bolt action rifles. And actually, Savage M1899 rifles as well.
steve004 said
It’s interesting as the catalog picture of the ’95 shows a standard tang sight mounted, not the flexible base sight.
ALL Marble’s tang sights were flexible–it was Marble’s main claim to being superior to Lyman sights. What actually made a more important difference was the locking stem which removed all play between the stem & elevating barrel. I’ve had to shim Lyman sights that were so worn the stem wobbled when elevated for long range.
clarence said
steve004 said
It’s interesting as the catalog picture of the ’95 shows a standard tang sight mounted, not the flexible base sight.ALL Marble’s tang sights were flexible–it was Marble’s main claim to being superior to Lyman sights. What actually made a more important difference was the locking stem which removed all play between the stem & elevating barrel. I’ve had to shim Lyman sights that were so worn the stem wobbled when elevated for long range.
My error. I meant to say, “special base.”
Thanks to a member here, I now have a Marbles Special Base sight on a Winchester. A Winchester M1894 SRC .30 WCF is now proudly wearing the sight. One of the advantages the Marbles catalog touts about this sight is the ability for the shooter to wrap their hand completely around the grip. Indeed, regular tang sights do make this awkward.
Here it is paired with the Marlin 1893 SRC I showed at the beginning of this thread. Kind of neat to have two .30-30 half magazine carbines with this sight:
COOL
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
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