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Bob I had to go check the sight again. The more I look at it, I think your right.
AG
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AG said
The narrower one says Lyman in the correct position near the edge & looks original so I’m confused. The wider one says Lyman Pat Aug 31 86.
Can’t imagine what that date refers to, if you’re still talking about a #5, unless maybe it’s the ivory bead itself, which Lyman patented (two different styles, in fact) for the #3 & 4 sights, though I don’t know the exact dates. Only #5 I’ve got with markings legible enough to read is marked July 14, ’91–exactly the year Beach’s pat. expired. That pat. undoubtedly referred to some minor detail of its construction, such as the screws the globe pivots on.
Sorry Clarence I meant No 4 hunting(half moon) on that post.
AG
AG
I checked some that I have one is just marked Lyman and 3 are marked with the Aug 31 86 patent and one is unmarked. They all are the same width but different heights.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
AG said
Sorry Clarence I meant No 4 hunting(half moon) on that post.AG
Then it’s definitely the ivory insert that patent refers to.
I started digging through some Lyman catalogs and found a insert in a 1943 catalog that showed the dimensions of the Hunting 4 and it did come in different widths but they were application codes dependent.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Yes that makes sense Bob.. The narrower one must be for another brand of rifle. Thanks for researching that.
AG
Gentlemen;
Once again allow me to toot my horn when it comes to the value and rarity of Winchester front sights. To the best of my knowledge the rarest and thus most valuable, spelled “EXPENSIVE, to sight collectors of front sights that were manufactured by Winchester was the 1882 – 1883 ” REVERSIBLE FRONT SIGHT “. It was sold by them for $ 1.50. This was as you might guess not a very popular one. It was made for the Model 1876. I’ve never seen another other than the one mounted on my British proofed 1876 rifle. Most collectors never even heard of it much less ever saw one. Thanks to 1873man, he posted a photo taken from the 1882 – ’83 catalog. It can be found in the ” Sight ” category of this forum. As I have said before, the one I own might be the only one still in existence. If another is ever found by one of you out there, know that you have a very, very rare bird indeed.
Apache ( ya ta hey )
apache said
As I have said before, the one I own might be the only one still in existence.
It’s possible; though it’s also possible another one, or even more, exists that hasn’t yet (and may never be) identified. If the sight doesn’t letter to the gun it’s now on, I’d sell it, if for no other reason than to find out experimentally just what the fattest of fat cats among sight collectors might pay for “the rarest Winchester sight”! The “fattest of fat cats” probably doesn’t reside on this forum, so it would have to be WELL advertised to attract the attention it deserves.
Is there a preferred rear rifle sight? Three Leaf or semi buckhorn etc. Just wondering now what rear rifle sight is preferred on 1894’s or considered most desirable for value.
AG
AG,
The buckhorn is the preferred sight. The only time I would want a three leaf is if it lettered with it. The three leaf only has 3 elevations and is more fragile.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
AG,The buckhorn is the preferred sight. The only time I would want a three leaf is if it lettered with it. The three leaf only has 3 elevations and is more fragile.
Bob
Thanks Bob. Appreciate the reply & info. Does it matter if it’s semi or full buckhorn?
AG
AG<
The full buckhorn sight is more rare (more expensive) and is harder to use for hunting so most go with the standard buckhorn which Winchester called the Sporting Rear. If the guy was a avid hunter he would use the Flat Top.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
AG<The full buckhorn sight is more rare (more expensive) and is harder to use for hunting so most go with the standard buckhorn which Winchester called the Sporting Rear. If the guy was a avid hunter he would use the Flat Top.
Bob
Once again thanks Bob.
AG
1873man said
The only time I would want a three leaf is if it lettered with it. The three leaf only has 3 elevations and is more fragile.
One purpose for which they’re very useful is filling up the rear sight slot, without obstructing significantly the line of sight, when a tang sight has been mounted; and since about half the ones I’ve seen have one of the leaves already broken, this is a way to make good use of a damaged sight.
1873man said
AG,The buckhorn is the preferred sight. The only time I would want a three leaf is if it lettered with it. The three leaf only has 3 elevations and is more fragile.
Bob
The letters(5) for the guns I acquired a letter for, don’t mention sights. Are the sights only mentioned in special order or deluxe models?
AG
Not even deluxes and guns with tons of special features rated having the sights letter. Just certain guns that were ordered with sights had them on the letter. They could of been a plain gun and the sights would letter. Out of 10728 guns that letter in my survey only a little over 4% letter with sights.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Not even deluxes and guns with tons of special features rated having the sights letter. Just certain guns that were ordered with sights had them on the letter. They could of been a plain gun and the sights would letter. Out of 10728 guns that letter in my survey only a little over 4% letter with sights.Bob
Thanks Bob. Great info. Learning a lot from you and some of the others here in the forum.
AG
Standard sights were never mentioned in the letters. Special order sights were.
Chuck said
Standard sights were never mentioned in the letters. Special order sights were.
For the newer collectors just getting into this(like me), can you or anyone else provide examples of the special order sights? Front or back. I think this would be a good reply to post ie; Front German silver blade, folding No 5, hunting No 4, No 3 Lyman, full buckhorn, 3 Leaf, tang?
Maybe it’s easier to just list what wasn’t special order.
AG
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