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Can someone advise if the Beach front sight, folds up from the muzzle end or the receiver end? It appears to me this one in the pics below which folds up from the receiver end is backwards when compared to the illustration pic (1898 catalog).
It’s on a 1886.
AG
March 31, 2009
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I believe that it folds just as the picture shows. The one on the gun is in backwards.
Chuck said
I believe that it folds just as the picture shows. The one on the gun is in backwards.
Thanks Chuck I have to agree. I checked another rifle and it was the opposite of this one also. I wasn’t sure cuz the bead is now at the back of the folded down part but it’s still as visible as the opposite way. Maybe this way it protects the bead a little also.
AG
May 2, 2009
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The one on the gun is a Lyman 5 not a Beach and it is on backwards or the globe was put on backwards.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Ok thanks Bob. I couldn’t tell from the wear if it was pins or screws to determine Beach or Lyman but maybe it’s the globe you can identify as being Lyman. I couldn’t read Lyman on the top either.
AG
March 31, 2009
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1873man said
The one on the gun is a Lyman 5 not a Beach and it is on backwards or the globe was put on backwards.Bob
I really didn’t look at the sight close. But now that I have isn’t it missing the ivory bead? Sorry Bob for how my picture posted?
Chuck said
The one on the gun is a Lyman 5 not a Beach and it is on backwards or the globe was put on backwards.Bob
I really didn’t look at the sight close. But now that I have isn’t it missing the ivory bead? Sorry Bob for how my picture posted?
That could be true as well Chuck. The little post is clear enough to see Np but maybe it did have an ivory bead in front of it. There’s no hole there or indentation tho.
November 1, 2013
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AG said
I couldn’t tell from the wear if it was pins or screws to determine Beach or Lyman but maybe it’s the globe you can identify as being Lyman. I couldn’t read Lyman on the top either.AG
There are other differences, such as the shape of the post, but only the Beach sports the tiny knob on the top of the globe; which in early references is identified as an aid to flipping the globe up, not an aiming point (though it might be used for that purpose). If the underside was visible, you’d also see the spring which holds it tight against the barrel when folded down.
November 1, 2013
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AG said
The little post is clear enough to see Np but maybe it did have an ivory bead in front of it. There’s no hole there or indentation tho.
Sure it’s not just plugged with dirt? That tiny little “tit” was not supposed to be the aiming point.
clarence said
Sure it’s not just plugged with dirt? That tiny little “tit” was not supposed to be the aiming point.
I just tried to take a close up photo. I think you’re right Clarence. When I zoom in on the pic below, it looks like a fragment of aged ivory (yellowish) is present. Probably chipped away during the last 130yrs.
May 24, 2012
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AG said
I just tried to take a close up photo. I think
You’re right Clarence. When I zoom in on the pic below, it looks like a fragment of aged ivory (yellowish) is present. Probably chipped away during the last 130yrs.
AG, look at the front of the sight. Do you see a small round hole or ivory bead in the center of the base? I’m thinking that you should as I suspect an ivory pin runs from front to rear in it, and when it has become to hard too see the bead, the pin can be pushed to the rear and form a larger sighting bead.
James
November 1, 2013
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jwm94 said
I’m thinking that you should as I suspect an ivory pin runs from front to rear in it, and when it has become to hard too see the bead, the pin can be pushed to the rear and form a larger sighting bead.
James
Would be interesting to try this (though it will probably be stuck fast), but the part of the ivory that forms the post looks like it’s larger in diameter than that hole in the bottom. I’m calling it a post, rather than a bead, because the one I checked has a flat, rectangular, face, which does not reflect light coming from the side the way a true cylinder would.
This was the first shape used on the original #5. Later, a 5A was added that had a true, round bead, but it was mounted parallel to the barrel, not perpendicular. There was also a 5B with an all-steel post.
March 31, 2009
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Here is what the back side of the Lyman looks like. See the white dot, this can be pushed toward the other side until it is even with the small metal post.
clarence said
Would be interesting to try this (though it will probably be stuck fast), but the part of the ivory that forms the post looks like it’s larger in diameter than that hole in the bottom. I’m calling it a post, rather than a bead, because the one I checked has a flat, rectangular, face, which does not reflect light coming from the side the way a true cylinder would.
This was the first shape used on the original #5. Later, a 5A was added that had a true, round bead, but it was mounted parallel to the barrel, not perpendicular. There was also a 5B with an all-steel post.
From the sight book:
May 24, 2012
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Chuck said
Here is what the back side of the Lyman looks like. See the white dot, this can be pushed toward the other side until it is even with the small metal post.
Thanks, Chuck. That’s what I thought. Here’s one on a Model 1890:
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May 24, 2012
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clarence said
Would be interesting to try this (though it will probably be stuck fast), but the part of the ivory that forms the post looks like it’s larger in diameter than that hole in the bottom. I’m calling it a post, rather than a bead, because the one I checked has a flat, rectangular, face, which does not reflect light coming from the side the way a true cylinder would.
This was the first shape used on the original #5. Later, a 5A was added that had a true, round bead, but it was mounted parallel to the barrel, not perpendicular. There was also a 5B with an all-steel post.
I would not want to try it either, not with Murphy’s Law ever-present!! The picture of the sight I just posted up has the rounded bead.
May 2, 2009
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AG said
I’m not aware of what the “barleycorn” is ?AG
Instead of the ivory bead (5B) or ivory post(5) it has a steel post(5A). The ivory post(5) is 1/16″ in diameter and can be tapped up from the bottom but you need to be very careful with the sight when doing that. It has to be removed from the gun and the globe held in a Aluminum padded vice. If you try tapping it while in the gun you will probably shear the pivot pins and have to look for the globe on the floor.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
May 24, 2012
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1873man said
Instead of the ivory bead (5B) or ivory post(5) it has a steel post(5A). The ivory post(5) is 1/16″ in diameter and can be tapped up from the bottom but you need to be very careful with the sight when doing that. It has to be removed from the gun and the globe held in a Aluminum padded vice. If you try tapping it while in the gun you will probably shear the pivot pins and have to look for the globe on the floor.
Bob
Thanks for all the details, Bob.
James
