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Clarence, I have had three…two for the 1873 and one for the 1876. They are extremely scarce. Ben Tolson said
“Scarce” is a huge understatement, I’m immensely impressed! If you found those, maybe you’ve seen one I’ve hoped for many yrs would turn up on ebay (which is the only means I have to find anything), the #29 Windgauge, made for only 3 yrs or less. Have always thought the square stem of this sight made it Lyman’s best design, because I don’t think it would develop the looseness the round stems often exhibit, but no doubt more expensive to mfg.
Currently have a couple 15’s and a 47 stem…. have never owned, much less seen a 29 in person. I really enjoy vintage metallic sights… everything about them from the design, the function and even the manufacture… the intricate, clockwork precision gearing (ie: Wittek-Vaver, Pope, etc) just shows how lost we’ve become in the current “IKEA” mentality for everyday, working man items.
Ben Tolson said
Currently have a couple 15’s and a 47 stem…. have never owned, much less seen a 29 in person. I really enjoy vintage metallic sights… everything about them from the design, the function and even the manufacture… the intricate, clockwork precision gearing (ie: Wittek-Vaver, Pope, etc) just shows how lost we’ve become in the current “IKEA” mentality for everyday, working man items.
Amen! I’m fascinated with them for the same reason. I was already convinced that the 29 must be very rare (despite being the best tang sight Lyman ever designed), but if you’ve never seen one, I begin to wonder if they were ever actually put into production, beyond the prototype stage of development.
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clarence said
Those of you advocating retention of rear sight along with tang sight: you consider yourselves better informed on this subject than Wm. Lyman? Who wrote dozens of articles explaining the optical principal of his sight, & whose chief rule for anyone installing his tang sight was, FIRST, ditch the rear sight? The great advantage of his tang sight, as he repeated in every catalog, & illustrated with drawings, was that (when it was correctly installed) the shooter saw ONLY his front sight against his target, with nothing to obstruct the sight line.
Winchester apparently did believe that they were better informed, as they frequently equipped rifles with both a Lyman tang sight or a Graduated Peep tang sight and a sporting rear sight. I own two Single Shot rifles that letter with tang sights and a sporting rear sight. Both rifles just happen to also be chambered for Ballard cartridges (40-70 Ballard and 40-90 Ballard).
Regardless of what old man Lyman had to say, Winchester most certainly did not pay any attention to it. I personally do not see any reason to remove an original barrel mounted sight with installing a tang sight. I shoot 50 and 100 yards with the barrel sight, and when I shoot at 200-yards, I use the tang mounted peep sight. I do not get any interference in my sighting path. I also have rifles with a Winchester 3-leaf Express sight and a Lyman No. 103 (my high-wall in 405 WCF is one of them). The 3-leaf is set for 50-yards, and I use the Lyman No. 103 for 100 & 200 yard shooting.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Winchester apparently did believe that they were better informed, as they frequently equipped rifles with both a Lyman tang sight or a Graduated Peep tang sight and a sporting rear sight.Bert H. said
Because the rear sight was standard eqpt, which adding the tang sight option didn’t change, unless the customer specifically requested omitting the rear sight seat, an extra charge option, with no credit given for value of rear sight. Doing it this way facilitated completing the order, because deviating from “standard eqpt” wasted time.
Jeremy P said
TR said
Jeremy,
I like having all three sights on a gun, I know it was not the intent of a tang sight but it works for me. I start by centering the front sight and adjusting the tang sight by sighting it in at 50 to 100 yards depending on the cartridge. Up and down with the tang sight is turning the knurled knob, lateral is with shims under one side of the base, cutting a sliver off a business card works well. Then I move the rear sight until I get the proper sight picture in the tang sight and drop it down one notch. That gets me close at short range with the rear sight and right on with the tang sight at the range I sighted it in. You can also use the range notched under the rear sight for longer range adjustments of the tang sight. On my 86’s with original velocity loads many times these notches are 50 yards. With my old eyes I need a peep type sight to focus on the front sight and the rear sight gives me quick ranging adjustment of the tang sight. After setting the range I drop the rear sight back down.
This setup allows me to pickup one of my guns and have a general idea of ranging, all were put away sighted by the same method.
86Win’s fishing line method would save a few rounds. Sounds clever, I like it.
T/R
The business card sliver for lateral (L-to-R) adjustment is a nice tip…do you worry about it inviting corrosion at all? I guess that a little oil would soak into the paper anyways…
Has not been a problem on guns I’ve owned for 35 years. I also color the card with a black Sharpie so the edge is less visible. T/R
TR said
Jeremy P said
TR said
J
The business card sliver for lateral (L-to-R) adjustment is a nice tip…do you worry about it inviting corrosion at all? I guess that a little oil would soak into the paper anyways…
Has not been a problem on guns I’ve owned for 35 years. I also color the card with a black Sharpie so the edge is less visible. T/R
Thanks!
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