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I just looked through Brad Dunbar’s thread about sights to see if I could figure out what kind of sights are on my new rifle.
It looks like the front is a sporting front sight, but the rear is different than a sporting rear sight. It is flat across with a V.
Any ideas what I have?
WACA #11669
NRA Distinguished Life Member
The nomenclature changed later, but at about this time the catalog was listing TWO “sporting sights,” the semi-buckhorn variety & one called (I wonder why) “flat top sporting sight.” Later catalogs gave them numbers.
Well that makes sense Clarence! Wonder which one is more uncommon. I’m guessing flat.
WACA #11669
NRA Distinguished Life Member
win1894 said
Well that makes sense Clarence! Wonder which one is more uncommon. I’m guessing flat.
It depends on when your Model 1894 was manufactured. In 1896, it would have not been very common. By WW I and throughout the 1920s, the Flat-top sporting rear sight was quite common (it was the standard sight on the Model 55). All that stated, I do not believe that the sight on your rifle is original. Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I see a screw in the right side of the sight lobe (for adjusting an elevation leaf), and that feature was not available until many years later than 1896.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Well darn Bert! I sure thought my rifle was original. It sure looks like that sight came on that rifle. No sign that anything has been disturbed.
Thanks for the info though.
Terry
WACA #11669
NRA Distinguished Life Member
Terry,
I recommend sending Brad a PM and asking him when the adjustable leaf was added to the Winchester Sporting rear sights.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hi. The rear sight pictured is probably original, but has had the top cut off. Easier to see clearly, and faster then then original sight was.
This was common. Eric
Upon close inspection of the top of the sight, it does look like it has been filed down.
I have a S&W Model 28, PD marked, that has a similar mod. Filed to keep the edges of the sight from tearing the holster.
Wonder what was removed?
WACA #11669
NRA Distinguished Life Member
win1894 said
Wonder what was removed?
The “horns” of the buckhorn, which serve no purpose but to obstruct sight of the target. Filing it down made it a better sight.
Bert H. said
Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I see a screw in the right side of the sight lobe (for adjusting an elevation leaf), and that feature was not available until many years later than 1896.
Bert
The standard sporting rear sight started getting the screw and the leaf in 1887. The November 1887 catalog shows them. The edges of the buckhorn were changed too.
Chuck said
Bert H. said
Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I see a screw in the right side of the sight lobe (for adjusting an elevation leaf), and that feature was not available until many years later than 1896.
Bert
The standard sporting rear sight started getting the screw and the leaf in 1887. The November 1887 catalog shows them. The edges of the buckhorn were changed too.
Interesting… none of my pre-1900 Model 1885 rifles have a screw in the right side of the rear sight lobe. The serrations on the edges of the buckhorn did not get eliminated for many years after 1900.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
This one was on a m1894 made in 1918. Had been on there a long time. As stated above, they use to do that.
RickC
Well that nails it!
But, if that is a sporting rear sight, it has a screw.
The gun letters to November, 1896. Shipped in November 1897. So could the sight, being late in the year, still be the original sight?
WACA #11669
NRA Distinguished Life Member
win1894 said
Well that nails it!But, if that is a sporting rear sight, it has a screw.
The gun letters to November, 1896. Shipped in November 1897. So could the sight, being late in the year, still be the original sight?
No it’s a flat top. Flat tops were commonly used when a tang sight was ordered or installed because they’re lower than the sporting. My 86 ELW’s from 1909 & 1912 both had original rear flat tops with screws. Some flat tops have screws and some don’t. Bob, Bert or Clarence can prob advise when & for what.
RickC
Now I’m getting confused! They say it is a buckhorn sight dehorned. If it was a flat top sight, it would be rare for 1896.
WACA #11669
NRA Distinguished Life Member
win1894 said
Now I’m getting confused! They say it is a buckhorn sight dehorned. If it was a flat top sight, it would be rare for 1896. But screws didn’t start till 1897.
Sorry win1894 let me go back in & read the entire thread again. Been a few days.
RickC
[The standard sporting rear sight started getting the screw and the leaf in 1887. The November 1887 catalog shows them. The edges of the buckhorn were changed too.]
Ok just re-read the thread. A better photo of your rear sight from back to front would help but it appears original to me and the same as the ones I’ve had. If Chuck is correct on the 1887 date & it includes the flat top, there’s no reason to think it’s not original.
RickC
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