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After many years of looking I finally found a Winchester make Knife Blade front sight. It seems to be an extremely rare sight on early Winchester rifles. According to Madis in The Sight Book it was numbered as the 73A – 73D. The blades could be steel, German silver, or ivory. It shared the same base as the more common Rocky Mountain sight (79A – 79G).
The Knife Blade sight first shows up in the April 1886 catalog. It appears to have been discontinued around 1932. A note in the Madis book for the 79A says for special and mail orders only.
Here are some photos of the Knife Blade with a Rocky Mountain sight for comparison.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
Bill,
There were a substantial number of Single Shot (high-wall) rifles that letter with a “G.S. K.B. Ft.” sight. While it was not nearly as common as the Rocky Mountain sporting front sight, the German Silver Knife Blade sights were not uncommon. The blued steel and ivory K.B sights were very uncommon.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
There are very few Knife blades on the 73’s at least that letter. From my survey of a little over 20,000 73’s I have 11,659 guns that have Cody information and of those only 543 letter with sights and of those only 10 letter with Knife Blade sights. 25 with Rocky Mtn. sights and the most popular sight is the Beech at 154.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Thank you Bert and Bob for your comments. I looked at the summary of the Model 1876 warehouse records and found only 13 listed a knife blade front sight. Of the over 3000 Model 1876’s in the survey (known guns, not from records) none have been documented with a Winchester knife blade front sight.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
I have a model 1894 that letters with a “German silver knife blade front sight.” Wondering how rare these sights are on the 1894’s?
Don
Well, I have a lot of ’94’s, none with that sight though.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
November 7, 2015
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Bill-
Congrats on finally scoring the Knife Blade front sight! Thanks for posting because I didn’t realize how much I liked this type of sight until you posted the pics. It reminds me very much of the Patridge front sights that give what I consider to be the sharpest sight picture on a pistol. In precision pistol or PPC the best scores are shot when the shooter can see well-defined corners of the front sight. This sight and the Patridge sight should produce that sight picture. I suppose the propensity of this sight to snag coming out of a case or scabbard kept it from being popular. May explain why some are found on the Single Shot. I’d like to try one on a rifle while I can still find a front sight.
Do you have a rifle in mind for this sight?
Mike
TXGunNut said
Bill-Congrats on finally scoring the Knife Blade front sight! Thanks for posting because I didn’t realize how much I liked this type of sight until you posted the pics. It reminds me very much of the Patridge front sights that give what I consider to be the sharpest sight picture on a pistol. In precision pistol or PPC the best scores are shot when the shooter can see well-defined corners of the front sight. This sight and the Patridge sight should produce that sight picture. I suppose the propensity of this sight to snag coming out of a case or scabbard kept it from being popular. May explain why some are found on the Single Shot. I’d like to try one on a rifle while I can still find a front sight.
Do you have a rifle in mind for this sight?
Mike
Mike, I don’t have any plans for the Knife Blade front sight. Just keep it with the others and add it to the display. In addition to the antique Winchester rifles I have a great interest in the sights and reloading tools. I like the high quality workmanship that went into them.
I am still looking for a Winchester Express front sight. It looks like a Lyman #3
Bill
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
November 7, 2015
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Bill-
I like the express sight picture as well, seems very quick but have never hunted with one. I may be going down that reloading tool rabbit hole, I’m fascinated by the workmanship and design of the Winchesters tools. I don’t have the required eye for detail to get very far in sight collecting. Thanks for pointing out the niceties of these sights.
Mike
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