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For a Winchester 1886. I have had this rifle over 3 decades now and the elevator is not the right type. It has a serrated area at the top for a thumb to adjust it. What dimensions am I looking for? As this rifle has 20% condition brand new is not desired nor aesthetically pleasing.
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This is what your rifle needs unless it is post 1900.
https://homesteadparts.com/shop/sight-rear-elevator-early-winchester-lever-action-rifles-p-1401.html
Chuck said
This is what your rifle needs unless it is post 1900.https://homesteadparts.com/shop/sight-rear-elevator-early-winchester-lever-action-rifles-p-1401.html
How does this differ from post 1900? I should know this, but don’t spend too much time looking at sight elevators.
It depends when your gun was made once your go past 1900 then they used what I call the thumbprint elevator.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
It depends when your gun was made once your go past 1900 then they used what I call the thumbprint elevator.
1901 production, IIRC. It might be correct with the thumbprint. I just don’t recall seeing it on a Winchester 1886, and that doesn’t mean anything. The hue of the elevator differs from the rest of the sight (both being patina) that I thought it was replaced with that thumbprint as well—but perhaps not.
This is an example of a sound and original rifle I would buy back in the day funds were tight in the $750 or $800 range. I buy stuff with better condition these days—but don’t want to sell this other honest, but well used stuff, either. Fun to shoot!
I have noticed 19th Century weapons, +/~ a few decades tend to shoot high. 8” high at 50 yards, in this case, with the sight set at the lowest elevation. Is point zero 200 yards on some of this earlier stuff (for a rifle). Same thing with Colt Single Action Army revolvers—at closer ranges 25 yards or less, this early stuff hits high (I cannot shoot at longer ranges with pistols at my range).
The Thumbprint elevator came in different heights depending on the caliber of the 86. Without measuring one it might just be the max height that is different and the low end might be the same.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
This what the rear sight elevator looks like with the 1901 Patent date.
Here are photographs of the rear sight & elevator for this late 1901 production rifle. After seeing the responses already to this thread, I’m guessing now the thumbprint elevator is period appropriate if not indeed original. Agreed?
Like I said, I never really paid attention to the rear sight elevator until I had to adjust it yesterday, and I thought to myself, I don’t think I’ve seen that before on a Model 1886 rifle??? But, if I missed it on my own as owned for a long duration, I surely paid no attention to sight elevators as handled on Model 1886 rifles at gun shows, etc.
mrcvs said
Here are photographs of the rear sight & elevator for this late 1901 production rifle. After seeing the responses already to this thread, I’m guessing now the thumbprint elevator is period appropriate if not indeed original. Agreed?
Like I said, I never really paid attention to the rear sight elevator until I had to adjust it yesterday, and I thought to myself, I don’t think I’ve seen that before on a Model 1886 rifle??? But, if I missed it on my own as owned for a long duration, I surely paid no attention to sight elevators as handled on Model 1886 rifles at gun shows, etc.
No, that is not the original sight & elevator, or even period correct. That style elevator was first used in the 1930s (on the Model 94 Carbines with the 22-G rear sights).
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
Here are photographs of the rear sight & elevator for this late 1901 production rifle. After seeing the responses already to this thread, I’m guessing now the thumbprint elevator is period appropriate if not indeed original. Agreed?
Like I said, I never really paid attention to the rear sight elevator until I had to adjust it yesterday, and I thought to myself, I don’t think I’ve seen that before on a Model 1886 rifle??? But, if I missed it on my own as owned for a long duration, I surely paid no attention to sight elevators as handled on Model 1886 rifles at gun shows, etc.
No, that is not the original sight & elevator, or even period correct. That style elevator was first used in the 1930s (on the Model 94 Carbines with the 22-G rear sights).
Well, that’s probably why I never saw it on a Winchester 1886 rifle before. It looked out of place to me. I have Madis’ sight book but I couldn’t find it today. It will turn up.
What would you replace this with?
If anyone has what I need or needs what I have, PM me. The sight is for sale.
The rifle is perhaps 50% condition. It’s the best I could afford at the time and is fun to shoot.
Or, maybe I insert a blank and a tang sight. I have a few N marked tang sights appropriate for the Model 1886.
Your 1902 model 86 rifle would need one of the type 22 sights (there are several variations… from flat top to full California Buckhorns) whatever you choose will need the serrations on the side of the buckhorns. The serrations were standard on pre-1908 buckhorn sights.
Ben Tolson said
Your 1902 model 86 rifle would need one of the type 22 sights (there are several variations… from flat top to full California Buckhorns) whatever you choose will need the serrations on the side of the buckhorns. The serrations were standard on pre-1908 buckhorn sights.
Okay, thank you. I hadn’t fired this rifle in over 20 years and it has sat in a back corner, and, since then, my knowledge base has increased to the point where the sight didn’t look right, perhaps, when I fired this rifle on Saturday and needed to adjust the sight.
So what’s the verdict? Replace with a Type 22 rear sight, another rear sight, or insert blank and install proper tang sight, which I already have?
If you already have the tang sight you can put it on and in the future you can take your time and shop for the right barrel sight that matches the barrel finish. You can have both on the gun and I do see some wear marks where it did have another elevator on the barrel.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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