Fowler sights

[paulitus]

Question for the group: I am planning to build an American Fowler with British styling cues. Many, if not most of the originals have a rear sighting groove filed into the breech, often into a raised area at the front of the breech plug. I realize that this would not qualify for use in smoothbore competition, so my question is, what percentage of smoothbore shooters are competing, and, would it damper the saleability of such a piece if it were to incorporate such a sighting groove?

[rich pierce]

I file a groove at the tang/barrel junction. This is legal as it is not above the plane of the barrel. I shoot competition.

[Keb]

Trade gun matches call for no rear sight above the plane of the barrel, single simple trigger, smoothbores barrel. Some even have a minimum bore size. Smoothbore & trade gun rules are different. There's not a rule against a rear sight on smoothbores (think smooth rifles). They can shoot right along with rifles without any questions too. However I'd ask whoever is running the match before competing.