Front sight on a Win 1886

Coloradoyaler · Post by **Coloradoyaler** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:55 am

Hello

I have a new win 1886 take down that I want to replace the front sight which is dovetailed. I cannot get it drifted out! Any suggestion and has anybody else had this trouble?

Thanks
Mark

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:36 am

It will come out. Use a heavier hammer with at least a 1/4" to 3/8" brass punch. Drive from left to right with lots of small hits. Support the barrel on a wood bench so there is no "give" when you tap. You also might try to apply some heat from a propane torch before tapping. The heat will not hurt the blue.---------Sixgun (and yes, I have had sights that were nearly welded in from rust.)

crs · Post by **crs** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:18 am

What replacement sight will you use?
Did you locate one of those that rotates from ivory to brass?

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:59 am

I used a 1" square piece of oak 1 foot long. Put the corner on the sight and smack the back with a 5 pound mallet. Three whacks and the sight came out. Make sure your vise is good and well padded.

crs · Post by **crs** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:36 am

yes, and then 86er put a flourescent orange piece of plastic up front. It the sunlight, it looks like the tailight on a motorcycle on a moonless night. He uses the gun sight rather than a flashlight when coming in after dark.

However, you can't miss seeing it.

Coloradoyaler · Post by **Coloradoyaler** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:09 pm

Thanks Guys for the replies!

I took it to my gunsmith friend Rich Reily of High Tech Custom Rifles and he got it out. It was as tight as I have ever seen a dovetail sight!

My 1886 had a short throat. So while I was there I had him lengthen the throat so the gun will now take the 350gr Hornady bullets when seated and crimped at the cannulure.

crs
I have not found a sight like that yet! Do you know were to get one?

Thanks Again!
Mark

crs · Post by **crs** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:27 pm

Now, with the bullet seated further out, you have more room for powder, eh?

There was a forum thread in the last week or two that discussed these front sights and I read an article on an 1886 Turnbull rifle that had such a sight. I will see if I can locate either. I am sure that some forum member has the information though and may come up with the answer.

crs · Post by **crs** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:34 pm

OK Mark;
I found the November 2006 Guns and Ammo mag with the article about the customized 1886 takedown. in .50-110 that was done for movie actor Brad Johnson. This is an elegant piece of work that has an original Winchester three leaf rear barrel sight and a Marbles rotating, or swivel front sight with a brass bead on one side and an ivory bead on the other. This must be a sight from times past, as the Marbles web site display of front sights has many types of beads, but none that swivel. See link -
http://marblearms.com/sights/contour.html

Since this is a sight from the past, I checked the current Buffalo Arms catalog, but though they have a good selection of sights, there was no front sight that swivels.

Let me know if you find a source of such swivel front sights, as I will want one also.

big bear · Post by **big bear** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:53 am

What's the appeal of the swivel sight?Did they come in different heights? Have you ever seen the King's front sight with a reflector?

longarm4146 · Post by **longarm4146** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:30 am

there was a swivel front sight on E-bay last week....it was either a Marbles or Lyman but I'm not sure dovetails are same.....I put a Smith Ent ladder sight on my Winchester (Miroku) takedown and had to shim the sight cause I think the dovetail is a metric one rather than 3/8". You might try a "beech" style frony sight.....MVA and Buffalo has them....2 different options there....they run about $100.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:18 pm

Here ya go.

Better hurry!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=001

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:26 pm

Well, someone got a good deal on that sight! Hope it was one of you boys!