Avatar
Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon
Rare Watson front sight
Avatar
Rick C
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 827
Member Since:
March 14, 2022
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
October 30, 2025 - 12:44 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

I was reading about front sights for 22’s online last night and came across this one below and realized I had one laying around for a couple years I took off a gun and replaced with an original. I thought someone put gold paint or something on it. I’ve never heard of them and just threw it in my sight drawer not realizing until now the gold color was original 22k gold and how rare it is and what kind of possible value it had. Just fyi.

IMG_6454.jpegImage Enlarger

IMG_6455.jpegImage Enlarger
IMG_6444.jpegImage Enlarger

IMG_6456.jpegImage Enlarger

IMG_6454-1.jpegImage Enlarger

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments

 Rick C 

   

Avatar
Maverick
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 2050
Member Since:
May 23, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
October 30, 2025 - 3:57 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

It is a dandy of a sight!

Avatar
Chuck
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5978
Member Since:
March 31, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
October 30, 2025 - 5:31 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Watson Gunsight Co. was a Canadian company.  They made a series of front sights and a tang sight.  They operated from 1910 to 1927.  In 1927 they were taken over by Belding and Mull in Pennsylvania.  

Avatar
Rick C
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 827
Member Since:
March 14, 2022
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
October 30, 2025 - 6:23 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Maverick said
It is a dandy of a sight!
  

Chuck said
Watson Gunsight Co. was a Canadian company.  They made a series of front sights and a tang sight.  They operated from 1910 to 1927.  In 1927 they were taken over by Belding and Mull in Pennsylvania.  
  

I agree Maverick and thank you Chuck for the info. Very interesting. 

 Rick C 

   

Avatar
1ned1
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 56
Member Since:
June 19, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
October 31, 2025 - 5:54 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Thanks for posting Rick. That’s an interesting front sight. It peaked my interest right away.

A little over a year ago, I picked up a group interesting & unusual sights along with a few scope blocks. Like you, I had never of Watson sights and new little of some of the others. So I began searching for information. My research on the sights came up with some interesting info, so I thought I’d share my notes & a few photos here in case anyone is interested.

-Watson #2 globe front sight– Online searching produced little information. Appears to be a quite rare #2 target front sight. These were made in Canada. This has a light increasing slide open top allowing for both target & hunting use. Parker Hale & Duckendorf would later adopt this design listed as (Watson Style). See links below.

-Pair of Parker Hale Iris deluxe adjustable apertures (see image in Stroebl book). One is new with original box. These have an adjustable camera lens style Iris and integral rotating color disc.

-Qty 2, Lyman #17 target front globe’s for 1903 Springfield – Predecessor to the 17A. These have a neat flipping combination dual aperture similar to a Lyman No,5 front sight. Would make a nice addition for a 1903 target rifle. See info pertaining to #17 & “No,17 special” for the 1903 Springfield in Stroebel book. The one mounted on the 1903 base has the early flip change combination pin & ball post or aperture reticle. Unmounted one has flip combination with later combination style flat top partridge post or aperture reticle.

-Lyman 17a front with 1903 Springfield mount.

– Griffin and Howe / Clear Vision front globe sight. New never mounted with original box, inserts & packing.

-Duckendorff, Gold cross wire globe front sight. These were patterned after the Watson #2 sight

– Qty2, Merit discs W/ interchangeable inserts.

-Redfield International front

– Redfield 102 receiver sight marked “W” for Winchester 54 & 70.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/16348939/re-watson-sights

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/watson-front-sight.828282/

1-GrpDSC_0137.JPGImage Enlarger

17-1-PXL.jpgImage Enlarger
17-2-PXL_.jpgImage Enlarger
17.17a.jpgImage Enlarger
167174.jpgImage Enlarger
DSC_0093.JPGImage Enlarger
DSC_0094.JPGImage Enlarger
DSC_0097.JPGImage Enlarger
DSC_0100.JPGImage Enlarger
DSC_0103.JPGImage Enlarger
DSC_0108.JPGImage Enlarger
1Capture.JPGImage Enlarger

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments
Avatar
Rick C
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 827
Member Since:
March 14, 2022
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
October 31, 2025 - 6:09 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Great post Ned. Very informing and interesting!

 Rick C 

   

Avatar
Chuck
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5978
Member Since:
March 31, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
October 31, 2025 - 9:21 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

Edward,  that’s a lot of great info.  I’ve only seen pictures of a couple Watson sights.  After I posted I found out the company had been around longer. 1910 was when they moved to Niagra Falls. 

Forum Timezone: UTC 0
Most Users Ever Online: 5406
Currently Online: tionesta1, Byron Russell, [email protected], kevindpm61, Deg
Guest(s) 212
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
clarence: 7119
TXGunNut: 6661
Chuck: 5978
steve004: 5270
1873man: 4738
deerhunter: 2736
Big Larry: 2576
twobit: 2540
mrcvs: 2247
Maverick: 2050
Newest Members:
ToddDavison
OLDERNROCKS
catchycourtproduct
GilsonKnightsArms
Pat
Rafael
Botchan
COL K
Peeps417
J5Collector
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 18
Topics: 14987
Posts: 134462

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 2057
Members: 10175
Moderators: 3
Admins: 4
Administrators: Mike Hager, Bert H., JWA, SethJ
Moderators: Rob Kassab, Brad Dunbar, Heather
Navigation