winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Brand?

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jringo8769
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winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Brand?

Post by jringo8769 »

well after getting some more parts in for my projects i am test fitting everything and when i got this 1896 carbine which was really a rifle mess...it has this unusual rear sight on it...i have looked online and asked locally and no one seems to know anything other than one rumor...this sight might be a early redfield brand sight... i was told that before redfield was redfield...they wanted to be known as western sight co...so they apparenty made sights under the name western and found out after the fact there was already a company making them....they were sued and told to get back all of the sights made as they were never to be out in the public...the lgs tells me this might be one of those very rare sights...i highly doubt this tale ....but i better ask ....has anyone ever heard this?....here is the pics of what i have....i would love to hear if this is true or what the rear story about this sight...thanks in advance God Bless,John
sight measures 3" overall and 2.75" from front of dovetail to rear of sight......it has a rams head logo and one i can not find any info about...
can i use this with my 1896 rifle?....what would this be correct for?...i know it is too large for the SRC
well been seaching for some info about this and found this...

John H. Redfield started his gun sight business in 1909, under the "Western Gunsight Company" name. In the 1920s, to avoid legal problems with Winchester-Western, he changed the name to the "Redfield Gunsight Company".

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JerryB
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by JerryB »

That is a good looking and interesting old sight. Never seen one before.
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by Griff »

JerryB wrote:That is a good looking and interesting old sight. Never seen one before.
+1. Never that story.
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by Sixgun »

Pretty much shaped like an old Marbles. My "edumacated" guess is that is was made by Marbles for another company. I've got some here that look exactly like it but are marked Marbles.-----6
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Ray Newman
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by Ray Newman »

Do believe that 6-gun is onto something....
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jeepnik
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by jeepnik »

In the deep dark recess of my mind I do recall that Redfield did have a prior name. Was it Western, don't remember.

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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by BenT »

According to the book Old Gunsights and Rifle Scopes.
John H Redfield started his gunsight business in 1909 naming it the Western Gunsight Company.
In the late 20's it was changed to Redfield because of Western Cartridge objected to the use of the name.

So your sight was made between 1909 an the late 1920's.
jringo8769
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by jringo8769 »

well great it looks like i got a odd ball...it looked like a older marbles to me when i took it off...well i needed one for my rifle and this one is for a carbine...well thank u all for the help and the link to rimfire too...i love to learn new history too...God Bless and so appreciate it...John
"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
The Republic will cease to exist when the government takes away from those who are willing to work to give to those who are not.
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marlinman93
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by marlinman93 »

Yes Western Gun Sight was the first name used by Redfield when he started out in Denver, CO. Your sight is listed in Nick Strobels Old Gun Sight book, and he lists it as the #43 Redfield Western. Sights with Western on them were made between 1909 and 1920. In 1920 the name was changed to satisfy complaints from Western Cartridge Co.
He also made rifle versions in Models 40, 41, 42 depending on the rear blade shape.
My copy of Strobel's book is old, so values might be higher. But he lists them at $10-$50 in my copy.
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jringo8769
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Re: winchester 1894 rear sight identification...Western Bran

Post by jringo8769 »

well thank u so much...i thought someone here would know...very cool i got a unique sight...maybe i can trade this for a rifle sight...if it would fit my SRC i would gladly keep it as i really like it...thank u so much for the great info....i so appreciate it...i love to learn all this new info and find out great things about Redfield too....Dad and his friends have used their products for years and very cool this is a early example of their work too...God Bless,John
"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
The Republic will cease to exist when the government takes away from those who are willing to work to give to those who are not.
Unknown....
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