bolt mounted peep sight: Pic added

[lever-4-life]

I just picked up a 1907 vintage winchester model 1894 rifle that is cut for a bolt peep. Where can i find one and about how much will it cost me? I am not into the gun a whole lot and am willing to put a bit of cash into her.

Thanks, Derek

[Pete44ru]

Montana Vintage Arms (google them) makes a repro Winchester bolt peep, although I don't think it's on their website any longer;
and (IIRC) one of this forum's membership also makes a bolt peep clone - so a search here might give up his contact info.

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[RANisbet]

I have seen original Winchester bolt peep sights sell on eBay for between $350 and $525, not too long ago. There are also one or two folks that have occasionally had them for sale through rifle forums like this one.
If you decide to buy one, you need to know that the Model 71 sight base has a different configuration than the one designed for a Model 64 and some of the others. The bases are not interchangable, but many of the other parts are identical.
You also should be aware that installing a bolt peep sight may require some fitting and usually requires the removal of the bolt to install. There is a possibility that a sight may be slightly oversized for your bolt or it may be slightly undersized and result in "wobble" if not properly fitted.
I have answered a variety of questions for folks about bolt peep sights and would be glad to answer any questions you have.
My knowledge is based on my having reverse engineered the Winchester bolt peep sights in order to make one for my own rifle. I borrowed sights from a couple of people to complete my efforts to create a set of design drawings covering all the parts.

[lever-4-life]

Thanks for the info! I was afraid that it was not going to be an easy find , Oh well It will make a "fun" winter project.

[71fan]

I just picked up a 1907 vintage winchester model 1894 rifle that is cut for a bolt peep.

What's most interesting about this is the timing. The 98A bolt peep didn't come around until the 30s, IIRC. I'll have to check my sight book. I would guess you have a Model 64 bolt in your rifle. Not that it matters, as long as it shoots

[lever-4-life]

The rifle is different, half octagon/half round barrel, button mag, and that dove-tale in the bolt. I will post pics

[71fan]

The rifle is different...and that dove-tale in the bolt

Please do post pics. Doesn't sound like a 98A bolt peep if it's dovetailed.

[Mike D.]

The bolt is milled for the 98A, not "dovetailed". If your bolt is cut for the 98A sight it should look like this.

[RANisbet]

Very interesting that you have a dovetail in the bolt for the rear sight.
Just wondering what configuration sight you might use and what the elevation adjustment would be.
Does your rifle also have a dovetail cut into the barrel?

[lever-4-life]

There is also a dovetail in the barrel, this is causing me to think that the bolt dovetail is the work of a gunsmith long ago. I got the rifle from a man who got it in the early 60's and he said the dovetail was there when he got it.

[Pete44ru]

That bolt dovetail's definitely not factory.

If that was my rifle, I would still bolt peep it, AND make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, by filling the dovetail with a flat-topped filler blank (either bought or handmade), D/T'd in the center for either an XS Sights or Skinner Lo-Pro peep sight stem.





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[20cows]

Here's one I modified to fit a 94 bolt.

[Mike D.]

Here's one I modified to fit a 94 bolt.

Lookin' good, 20 Cows. i'm trying to locate some form of post-64 94 action that will accept the lower tang with the two "rails". Probably what you have there, eh?

[20cows]

This was a Williams site base made for mounting on a round bolt-action barrel. I modified the radius of curvature with wet/dry sandpaper laid over the 94 bolt. I had a gunsmith drill and tap mounting holes behind the extractor.

[20cows]

On the lower tang, any top-eject should (all the ones I've played with did). The rails can be removed from the sides of the tang and it will go with any receiver.

Maybe not first choice, but doable.

[Pete44ru]

20cows' Williams peep is even easier to dovetail mount.

I don't know that he used a WGRS peep, or if the WGRS is available with a dovetail adaptor "thingie" in it's underside, like the WGOS open sight - for which the WGOS base can be ordered from Williams w/o the open sight blade, AND with the WGRS peep blade substituted, for a total of around $35 IIRC.

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