Which receiver sight and why?

SJPrice · Post by **SJPrice** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:19 pm

I have a 30 WCF Marlin 1893, circa 1904 that is in pretty nice shape. It still retains some of the CCH (85 to 90 %, but faded), the blue is clean and dark, the action is smooth and tight, the bore is bright and it shoots good groups with both jacketed and cast loads. Unfortunately the wood has been refinished, but at least it is a nice oil finish and a pretty fair job. It is however more of the old red toned Winchester stain under the hand rubbed oil finish. Overall this Marlin looks pretty good and is a fine shooter. My question is this. I think I am going to add a receiver sight and I have both a Williams and a Lyman that will fit fine. So which one would you use and why?

jbm1968 · Post by **jbm1968** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:38 pm

Wow, sounds like a nice old rifle. I have always been one to say guns are tools, but in your case, even with the wood being refinished, I think I might not want to Drill and Tap a 104 year old rifle. None the less, it is yours so just enjoy it either way.

First, I would try to find a correct period sight if possible, possibly a tang sight. Failing that or if you are definitely going to use one of the sights you have I would go with the Williams if it is the Foolproof version. I have a Lyman 66 on my Marlin and a Williams Foolproof on my Winchester. I like the adjustment and lockdowns on the the Williams Receiver Sight.

SJPrice · Post by **SJPrice** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:34 pm

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:52 pm

jbm1968 wrote:...I think I might not want to Drill and Tap a 104 year old rifle. None the less, it is yours so just enjoy it either way.

First, I would try to find a correct period sight if possible, possibly a tang sight...

Ditto!

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:43 am

I have one made in 1906. It came drilled and tapped and wearing a lyman sight. I like the lyman better than the williams. It isn't so big and chunky.
I'm not sure when they started factory tapping them. If the wood has been refinished collectors will whine anyways. If you know you like peep sights , go ahead.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:49 am

My favorite side mount receiver sight is the Lyman. So if I were to come up with an 1893 Marlin that was already D&T'd, I'd mount one of those. I like their quick adjustment features, and to me their design is a bit more refined.

However if I came up with a Marlin in the condition you described I would leave it as is and shoot it that way.

Joe

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:26 pm

wow great gun, i use both william and Lyman, some have "positive" adjustments and some have quick adjustments just depends how fast or often you adjust your sights. They work and look great happy shooting..

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:13 pm

How about this one?
period correct and I'm putting one on my 1908 1893.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,3750.htm

SJPrice · Post by **SJPrice** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:32 pm

That looks like a great option. Now I need to check to see if the top of the receiver is D&Ted for it.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:32 pm

BenT wrote:I have one made in 1906. It came drilled and tapped and wearing a lyman sight. I like the lyman better than the williams. It isn't so big and chunky.
I'm not sure when they started factory tapping them. If the wood has been refinished collectors will whine anyways. If you know you like peep sights , go ahead.

I dont think the 1893's were ever drillet & tapped for a side mounted reciever. Is your drilled on top for a Hepburn sight like the one below?

bsaride wrote;

How about this one?
period correct and I'm putting one on my 1908 1893.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,3750.htm

I have one, they work well but you need toadjust windage with the front sight. I think they started drilling for these in 1905 or 06.
I put one on my 1893 38/55, had to age the sight a little first so it wouls look right but it fits right in now.

SJPrice · Post by **SJPrice** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:39 pm

Yep must have started to D&T the top of the receiver for the Hepburn in 1905 because my 1904 is not. I am now down to either a tang peep, which I find to be uncomfortable to grip or a full buckhorn rear sight. I put a Smith full buckhorn with a flip up ladder on my 1886 and if works kind of okay for me. Not nearly as clear as a real peep though. Great ideas and info guys. Any other ideas are darn sure welcome. I am leaning away from drilling and tapping the receiver as this is a nice old shooter and you guys have me feeling guilty about doing any permanent alterations.

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:07 pm

"I put one on my 1893 38/55, had to age the sight a little first so it wouls look right but it fits right in now."

Leverdude I want to age mine too, how did you do yours?

I know alot of the guys shooting tang sights shoot with their thumb alongside the grip instead of over it.

I like this sight that I put on my M39, tho not correct I like using it with the Lyman 17 front:

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:16 pm

I just attacked it with steel wool to thin the blue & then let it rust a little. After it was a little rusted I attacked it again with the steel wool & now it fits the gun pretty good.

Hows that aperature work for you on the 22? I dont like them that far forward.

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:32 pm

hasn't been a problem since I don't focus on it.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:21 pm

bsaride wrote: I like this sight that I put on my M39, tho not correct I like using it with the Lyman 17 front:

Never had one so nice as that (it looks authentic to me!) but I have to my surprise found that an aperture sight up on the barrel dovetail isn't all that bad. I like scopes but it is hard with most setups to get a scope AND an aperture sight useable at the same time. That alternative has worked for me, with see through rings.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:43 pm

If you D & T that fine old Marlin, I'm gonna hunt you down like a coyote

. For real, the boys above have given you excellent advice. Personally, for me, its a tang sight 99% of the time. -------Sixgun

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:04 pm

AJMD429 wrote:

[/quote]
That sight looks like it came off an original Winchester Model 68 single shot 22 rimfire. I have one of those and it has a rear sight exactly like that.

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:54 pm

Kirk, yep it's a Winchester 96 sight.