Winchester Model 53 tang screws

[AlanF]

Does anyone here know if the original Winchester 53 came with two tang screws? I've got a Browning 53 and I would like to have a Marbles tang sight on but torn about having to D & T the tang. I think it would be easier to do if the original 53 came that way. Thanks.

[KirkD]

The answer to your question is, yes. The original Model 53's had the upper tang drilled and tapped for a tang sight. Here is a photo of my original Model 53 with original tang sight. It is a laser with this tang sight and I highly recommend you drill and tap your tang to fit a tang site.

[AlanF]

Thanks Kirk. I wonder why this wasn't done at the factory? It just looks right with a tang sight and the factory sights are challenging to use in anything but perfect light. I'll have to read up on drilling and tapping to see if it is something I want to do or find a local gunsmith to do it. Thank you again.

Alan

[earlmck]

Thanks for the question AlanF and the answer, Kirk. While we are on this subject, did the original also come D & T'd for receiver sight? The very few I have handled had receiver sights but I didn't know if it was a factory D & T job.

[hfcable]

Thanks Kirk. I wonder why this wasn't done at the factory? It just looks right with a tang sight and the factory sights are challenging to use in anything but perfect light. I'll have to read up on drilling and tapping to see if it is something I want to do or find a local gunsmith to do it. Thank you again.

Alan

when the the browning 53...and 86, and 92, repros came out the cowboy action shooting craze, and the general awareness and nostalgia for the old guns and tang sights, just hadnt gotten started. there were no quality repro tang sights available back then so only a relatively few gun cranks like myself and others i know, thought about tang sights.
in fact browning, by reproducing guns like the 1886, 53, 92, etc helped fire up and spread the desire for the classic lever guns, their calibers, and the old sights. in short, browning wasnt sure there even was that much a market for these classic lever guns, and originally planned on short runs of them, tang sights werent even given a second thought.

as the market took off, we then saw lyman and marbles resume making tang sights, and now some of the lever guns again come from the factory D and T for them.

[Shasta]

I installed a Marble's tang sight on my Browning 53. It looks good and I can shoot better with it.




SHASTA

[AlanF]

Thanks for the replies and info.

hfcable - thank you for the history. My Browning is one fine rifle and I hope to be able to shoot it to it's full potential.

[hfcable]

you are welcome. being old has few advantages except sometimes a bit of perspective