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Would anyone know the last year that Winchester used the smokeless 32 WS rear sight. I read somewhere they were not in the catalogues after 1914 or 1916 but can’t remember.
Ive acquired a mint one to put on my 1894 rifle(1915) with 26” round barrel, but I want it period correct.
RC
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RC,
In my research survey of the Model 1894 (serial range 354000 – 1012753), I have thus far found a total of (98) 32 WS caliber guns with the Smokeless sight installed on them, and of that number (90) of them are pre-1915. More than half of those I have surveyed beyond 1914 are suspected to have the sight added at a later date. If your 1915 production rifle has a standard sporting rear sight on it, I would be inclined to leave it alone.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I will take your advice Bert. Thank you once again. Exactly the info I was looking for.
RC
RC said
I will take your advice Bert. Thank you once again. Exactly the info I was looking for.
RC
You are welcome. Do I have the serial number & information for your rifle? If not, please pass it along to me so that I can add it to the survey.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Did the sight survey ever provide any confirmation of what the smokeless 32WS rear sight came on(rifle/carbine), both? & it appears 1902-1910 these were available as an option.
RC
I just completed a deep dive search through my research survey, and I discovered that I have actually recorded a total of (108) Model 1894s in 32 WS with the Smokeless sight Of that number (103) of them are “Rifles”. I suspect that the (5) Carbines found with the sight were most likely not factory original. My survey contains a total of (925) Model 1894s in the 32 WS cartridge, indicating a ration of just 1:9 with the Smokeless sight.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
A note of interest: The 32 W.S. sight is shorter than a common rifle sight length. The 32 W.S. sight only contacts the barrel at the dove tail. A standard rifle sight will usually leave a contact mark where the back of the sight contacts the barrel. Plus the sight elevator will generally mark the barrel also. RDB
Another + for the smokeless. Thanks for posting this rogertherelic.
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