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The knife blade front sight first shows up in the April 1886 catalog. It’s not the same as the Rocky Mountain sight that was introduced in 1884. I have never owned a Winchester that has a knife blade front sight. It seems to have survived into the 20th century to at least 1918.
See the cuts below from the April 1886 catalog that shows both the knife blade and Rocky Mountain sights.
Do you own a Winchester with a knife blade sight? They seem to be an uncommon sight.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
Bill,
I have one.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I checked my survey of 73’s and only 9 letter with knife blades out of 11,219 lettered guns. One lettered with a hand made thin knife blade and was noted it took one hour.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Online
A friend of mine has an antique 1892 44-40 which letters with set trigger & ivory knife blade sight, both of which were missing. It still doesn’t have the trigger but I found the front sight at Cody when I still owned the gun
which I had purchased from another close friend. I’ll get the pics up here asap.
Darrin
Bill, Bob, and others. Yes, knife blade sights do appear seldom, and even less frequently in letters. I am very fortunate to have one that letters, though. It is an 1873 rifle, that letters as follows: Rifle, 38, Octagon, 34 inches, set trigger, German silver knife blade front (no mention of the rear sight). Rcvd in warehouse Nov 21, 1889, shipped Nov 21, 1889, Order number 5746.
FWIW, I have a couple other rifles with knife blade sights, incl an 1895 model. But this is the only one I have that letters as such. I don’t get overly hung up on sights, mainly being concerned if they look the age of the rifle and seem appropriate. Way too easy back in the day to change sights to what the individual shooter wanted at the time.
Tim
There are a substantial number of Single Shot rifles that letter with Knife Blade fronts sights.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Chuck,
Yes it is.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Chuck,Yes it is.
Bob
I’ve seen one other ’73 that was marked .22 Extra Long on the bottom of the brass elevator.
Bob – I think I remember the story of how you acquired this rifle. Wasn’t the moral of the story – check out what the dealers have under their tables at gunshows 
Steve,
Yes it was, The most interesting stuff is under the tables since they don’t know what to put on it and don’t want to put it on the table too cheap.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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