Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Sights

tim tomlinson on Double Rear Dovetail model 1894

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:25:11 +0000

FWIW, I had one 1892 with an added dovetail in which a level had been installed by an owner. Currently don't recall in which the level had been placed, tho.

I would guess it was ahead of the sight but that isn't a real concern. Owners, like shooters everywhere, do odd things for whatever reasons. Tim

Bert H. on Double Rear Dovetail model 1894

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:03:34 +0000

The second dovetail slot was without a doubt added by a former owner, most likely to move the rear sight closer to his shooting eye.

Bert

Lenny71 on Double Rear Dovetail model 1894

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:30:11 +0000

Hi all. I am new to this forum but was hoping that may be with all of your expertise. You might be able to help me with my 30 WCF model 1894 MFG 1900. It has a double rear sight dove tail in the barrel. One has what looks to be a period correct insert. Have any of you ever seen this before? I greatly appreciate any and all help.

Max on Identifying a Winchester Ladder Sight

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:29:36 +0000

Thanks Bert.

Bert H. on Identifying a Winchester Ladder Sight

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:36:07 +0000

Your sight is a "Sporting Leaf" as listed by Winchester. The were used on the Model 1876, Single Shot, and Model 1886.

Bert

Max on Identifying a Winchester Rear Ladder Sight

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:38:24 +0000

Thanks fellows. It came on an 1886 that I purchased in 45-70 caliber.

cj57 on Identifying a Winchester Rear Ladder Sight

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:34:02 +0000

It was also used on many model 1886s

1873man on Identifying a Winchester Rear Ladder Sight

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:22:59 +0000

That is a Winchester Sporting Leaf sight since it ranges up to 10 its would of been used on the 76 or Hotchkiss.

Bob

Max on Identifying a Winchester Ladder Sight

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:06:42 +0000

Here are the photos of the sight I am trying to identify. I'm new at adding photos. They didn't show on my first post.

Max on Identifying a Winchester Rear Ladder Sight

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:01:33 +0000

Here are the photos. They didn't show up my first post. Thanks

Max on Identifying a Winchester Ladder Sight

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:56:58 +0000

Would like some help identifying a rear ladder sight that came on a Winchester 1886 I purchased in 45-70 caliber. It was manufactured in 1895. To me, it looks similar to a Winchester 44A sight, but is a little different. Thanks for any help.

slk on Lyman tang sight

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 23:37:14 +0000

Great info thanks.

Steve

Zebulon on Lyman tang sight

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 23:26:10 +0000

Steve, here is a chart Gemini made up for me about aperture sizes. If your aperture disk is a vintage Lyman, I would not drill it out. Nor would I pay a silly eBay price for vintage original disks. Williams disks are excellent and made of easy-to-drill Aluminum. A good, voluminous [in increments of .001"] set of SAE drill bits serves a dual purpose: making clean holes and measuring hole diameters. The unspiraled ends are the true diameter as each is marked. Use them as a GO/NO GO gauge, start large and poke until one slips in.

But do shoot first with the "ghost ring" to build confidence. It's much more relaxing to start with lots of light and narrow down if you still want, than to start too narrow and get frustrated.

Diameter	Classification	Primary Use Case
.030" – .040"	Ultra-Fine Target	Max Precision: Best for benchrest or long-range target shooting in extremely bright sunlight.
.050" – .060"	Standard Target	Competition: The "Goldilocks" size for crisp focus and adequate light on overcast days.
.093"	Medium / Hunting	General Purpose: Standard for Williams/Lyman sights; ideal for informal range use and fair-light hunting.
.125"	Large / Twilight	Low Light: Maximum light transmission for dawn/dusk; sacrifices some depth-of-field focus.
None	Ghost Ring	Speed: Removing the disk allows for the fastest target acquisition in thick brush or on moving targets.

Zebulon on Lyman tang sight

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:57:02 +0000

Once you've tried them properly and see the difference, you'll never go back to barrel mounted irons.

With experience, the target apertures are useable for making tiny groups at long ranges - even 500 yards or more for experts who can read wind and know their load's trajectory like a book.

But the advantage of aperture sights for us - the users of top ejecting, scopeless Winchesters.-- lies in getting away from having to align 3 objects, particularly with aging eyes. My shooting eye has seen more than eighty Winters but in last shooting light it can focus on the front sight and let the deer's shoulder blur. The bigger the aperture the better.

A second benefit is a much more accurate way of adjusting elevation, to get sighted in.

Although it drives some Collectors [note the capitalized "C"] crazy, later Winchester lever actions' receiver sidewalls are tapped for micrometer receiver sights. Lyman 56, 66, Redfield 70 and 80. Attached see the newly installed Redfield 80 on my rice-powered 1886 45/90. If you care about factory issue originality, don't ever try a Redfield 80 or you will be publicly drawn and quartered for tapping your vintage 94! They are that good.

slk on Lyman tang sight

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:51:21 +0000

It is funny all these years training your eyes to believe one thing with open sights and now making them think it is just a hole to look through and just concentrate on the front blade and target. Hard to wrap my mind around that. I think I am over thinking the reasoning behind it working.

I just have to get to the range now.