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You know it has been awhile since I have had one apart but u are totally correct Jeff. So I would be for putting on the correct sight for the 1890 Joel. Jeff, does that dovetail plug have a threaded hole in it? Peter
Online
You need to get a copy of Nick Stroebel’s Old Gunsights A Collector’s Guide, 1850 – 1965. Page 308 lists all of the sights for the 1890/90. Winchester, Lyman and Marbles. Pictures will be shown under the manufacture’s section.
JWA said
I must be missing something because ALL of the 1890 barrels I have seen were dovetailed for a rear sight, including all the examples above. Or do you mean something else?Regards,
Now I’m really confused! I was under the impression that this style 1890 sight:
was attached to a threaded hole in the barrel, held in place by the screw at the front of the sight. I haven’t ever removed this style sight to see what the barrel looks like below. Is the barrel dovetailed? If so, what does the screw thread into, a dovetail blank with a threaded hole in it?
thanks
Well,
I took the 30B rear sight off another 1890 I have and low and behold the sight is attached to a base that sits in a 3/8” barrel dovetail?
Learn something new every day I guess!
So it seems that the more common 30B sight is what I should go with.
cwachter said
You need to get a copy of Nick Stroebel’s Old Gunsights A Collector’s Guide, 1850 – 1965. Page 308 lists all of the sights for the 1890/90. Winchester, Lyman and Marbles. Pictures will be shown under the manufacture’s section.
I have the Winchester Sight Book, Schwings book, and Stroebels book, but was thinking all along that my rifle had to have a buckhorn/sporting style sight because it’s barrel was dovetailed… Not realizing until now that the typical 30B sight for the 1890 is mounted to a dovetail.
Now with that knowledge, I can start the hunt for a clean 30B to match my barrel’s patina.
<img alt="" src="
” />You actually want the 30A sight to keep it period correct for ser#404036.
It is this one with the shorter bearing surface and deep “V” notch.
” />
Rustyjack said
It is this one with the shorter bearing surface and deep “V” notch.
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Thank you! Do you know when winchester made the switch from one sight to the other? I believe schwings book said around the third model?
Only from personal observation, I think the change was right around the time the collared magazine tube was introduced, or 1911.
November 7, 2015
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JWA said
I must be missing something because ALL of the 1890 barrels I have seen were dovetailed for a rear sight, including all the examples above. Or do you mean something else?Regards,
I haven’t seen nearly as many as you but when the sight base has a dovetail that fits into the dovetail in the barrel in my feeble mind it’s a dovetail sight. When the sight base covers the dovetail notch in the barrel and is held down by a screw I tend to forget that the dovetail notch is in the barrel and I call it a screw type sight. Not terribly accurate and somewhat confusing, I suppose it would be better if I simply learned the model numbers for the sights. I made my living remembering numbers so it shouldn’t be much of a challenge. 
The screw type fastener system is rather ingenious (and quite scary first time I took one off) but a bit misleading.
Mike
Rustyjack said
Only from personal observation, I think the change was right around the time the collared magazine tube was introduced, or 1911.
Thanks again!
I am a little slow at replying to the original question, but I have an 1890 with the sight you inquired about. It is also listed in the Cody Letter. I hope this is helpful. RDB
rogertherelic said
I am a little slow at replying to the original question, but I have an 1890 with the sight you inquired about. It is also listed in the Cody Letter. I hope this is helpful. RDB
RDB:
That is EXACTLY what I was hoping to see. Thank you!
I’ve taken my rifle out in the daylight and showed it to a couple other collectors. After a close inspection, we all agree that there is sight elevator wear on the barrel behind the rear sight dovetail. The wear is back near the rear of the pump slide handle (roughly where your elevator is in the above photo). Here’s a couple crummy indoor photos with bad lighting:
Thanks again!
Joel,
There were at least 5 Sporting Rear Sights very similar to the ones you have pictured in your original post for the 1890/90. Then there was one as pictured at the bottom of page 118. All of these sights were special or extra cost items. Each of the elevators on these sights would leave a wear pattern much different than the two pictures that you have posted, in that a long slender wear pattern would be typical. Rustyjack is correct about the 30A type sight you need to be period correct. A 30 B would be period correct as well. Either one would have the V notch.
Sorry for the late post to your thread.
James
jwm94 said
Joel,There were at least 5 Sporting Rear Sights very similar to the ones you have pictured in your original post for the 1890/90. Then there was one as pictured at the bottom of page 118. All of these sights were special or extra cost items. Each of the elevators on these sights would leave a wear pattern much different than the two pictures that you have posted, in that a long slender wear pattern would be typical. Rustyjack is correct about the 30A type sight you need to be period correct. A 30 B would be period correct as well. Either one would have the V notch.
Sorry for the late post to your thread.
James
My 1907 vintage M1890 22 Long, has the early 30-B without the slot cut in the sight. Has patent date on it too. I have owned this rifle since I was 17 years old when it was gifted to me. I am now 76 years old. Big Larry
Hi BL,
I think I remember you telling me about your 1890.
You bring up a very good point about having a 1907 vintage model 1890 that has a 30B rear sight on it that does not have a slot cut in it. According to Schwing, pg 122 of his famous book on this model, one of the things that distinguishes the 30A from the 30B is the elevation slot! It looks to coincide with Madis’ note on pg. 88, that as of 6/24/08 a slot was to be cut in the 30B. Schwing goes on to state that when a ‘1908’ change was made the sight’s number was changed from 44 to 30B. What do you make of these notes, my friend?
James
jwm94 said
Hi BL,I think I remember you telling me about your 1890.
You bring up a very good point about having a 1907 vintage model 1890 that has a 30B rear sight on it that does not have a slot cut in it. According to Schwing, pg 122 of his famous book on this model, one of the things that distinguishes the 30A from the 30B is the elevation slot! It looks to coincide with Madis’ note on pg. 88, that as of 6/24/08 a slot was to be cut in the 30B. Schwing goes on to state that when a ‘1908’ change was made the sight’s number was changed from 44 to 30B. What do you make of these notes, my friend?
James
I don’t have a clue. This discussion is way to deep for me. I have one M1890 # 332161 from 1907. It does not have the slot and has the “V” notch, such as it is. Very small. I recently took it out and shot it, and needless to say, I was not impressed with it with its 22 Long ammo. I think I will stay with my other pump guns. Big Larry
Big Larry said
I don’t have a clue. This discussion is way to deep for me. I have one M1890 # 332161 from 1907. It does not have the slot and has the “V” notch, such as it is. Very small. I recently took it out and shot it, and needless to say, I was not impressed with it with its 22 Long ammo. I think I will stay with my other pump guns. Big Larry
Very nice old Winchester, BL.
From what I can make out an early Winchester Model 1890 rear sight became sight number 44 (no slot) and it became known as the 30B (with slot) iin 1908.
Have a great day!
James
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