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Are there any known sporting rear sights with platinum lines? I don’t mean the #34C Express sights. I mean the standard #22 sporting rear sight like the type below. This is the 1884-1887 variation without the adjustable leaf with screw.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
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Bill,
In answer to your question, Yes…
Flat-top sporting sight factory installed on my Single Shot rifle in 50-95 Express
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thank you, Bert! Anyone else? There must be more of these platinum line sporting rear sights lurking out there. I suspect when the #34C Express sight was added to the lineup, it replaced the need for the platinum lined sporting rear sight.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
Hi Bill,
In addition to the 24E sight that Bert mentioned above, the other rear sights with the line includes the pre-1908 Winchester 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, 56A, 56B, 56C, 58A and 60A.
For all of the sights listed above there is a Change of Product Notice #37 dated 2/5/08 which discontinues the “Aluminum” line on the sights. Additionally, there is a Change of Product Notice #564 dated 11/15/08 which discontinues the 24E sight since the only difference between the 24E and the 24D sight was the “Aluminum” line. In both C/P references from 1908 on the sight drawings it specifically states “Aluminum”. I don’t know if that is a draftsmen error or they were in fact aluminum lines instead of platinum. Do you have a reference which states they were platinum or is that an assumption?
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Hi Bill,In addition to the 24E sight that Bert mentioned above, the other rear sights with the line includes the pre-1908 Winchester 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, 56A, 56B, 56C, 58A and 60A.
For all of the sights listed above there is a Change of Product Notice #37 dated 2/5/08 which discontinues the “Aluminum” line on the sights. Additionally, there is a Change of Product Notice #564 dated 11/15/08 which discontinues the 24E sight since the only difference between the 24E and the 24D sight was the “Aluminum” line. In both C/P references from 1908 on the sight drawings it specifically states “Aluminum”. I don’t know if that is a draftsmen error or they were in fact aluminum lines instead of platinum. Do you have a reference which states they were platinum or is that an assumption?
Best Regards,
Very interesting!! I had always “assumed” (not a good habit) that the sights were platinum lined, but aluminum certainly makes much more sense from an economics and production standpoint.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Letters refer to platina or platinum sights. See below.
I did some googling and platinum was not always expensive. That was a late 20th century change. Based on that I would say it is very likely that these were platinum lines.
Aluminum, on the other hand, was more expensive than gold during the 19th century. Obviously, that changed at around the end of the 19th century.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
It is also possible they were originally platinum and then changed to aluminum at some point around the turn of the century. Unfortunately, I don’t have the Change in Production records from the late 1800’s which would illustrate that. On most of the sight drawings Winchester was VERY specific regarding the materials, including the use of Monel, specific brass and even the carbon content of the steel in the sights.
The aluminum line reference may be one of those puzzles we never solve…..
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
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