Front sight on a Mountain Rifle

[Michigan Flinter]

  I am building a southern mountain rifle and want to install the sight by cutting a grove on the top flat parrel to the bore and staking the sight. I have to questions (1) what is the best wat to cut this slot using hand tools? (2) what is the correct material to use? Brass,copper ,bone,silver or bone. I like low sights and want something that will show up on the woodswalks. Thanks so much for your reply.  Eric D. Lau  Riverdale Mi.

[bama]

I have not installed a sight like this but I would probably use a flat graver the same width that I wanted the sight to be to cut the groove. As far as material for the sight my first choice would be coin or sterling silver and my second choice would be brass. I have been using silver on some of my front sights lately and I have been amazed at how well I can see the sight in low light conditions. Silver may not be the best choice for a target rifle but for a rifle that is going to be used in the woods for hunting I can see why the old times used it so much.

[Ky-Flinter]

I don't know about cutting the slot but I concur with Bama on the silver blade, they work great in the woods.

-Ron

[omark]

why not a sight base in a dovetail?   set the base level with the barrel top and it will be as low as your way.  i have never seen an installation as you describe. if doing it that way, i would try a moto tool.   mark

[BrentD]

Try copper.  An old penny (new ones are zinc in the middle) or a piece of copper pipe.

I'd be worried that staking it in a groove would be strong enough.  Solder?

Brent

[northmn]

I have been making chisels out of old chain saw files for that kind of work.  As I burn firewood I ahve a lot of them.  I would also consideer soldering the sight.  I ahve used soldered and staked under pinning loops for several rifles now and they work well so the system should hold for a sight.  Use poultry netting staples.

DP

[bgf]

DP,
If I understand correctly, you are using the poultry netting staples for underlugs?  If so, I'd be interested in hearing/seeing how you do it -- got plenty of that stuff, and while it may not be exactly what was done in the past, it sounds like something consistent with how some rifles were made of available materials.

[flintriflesmith]

... I'd be worried that staking it in a groove would be strong enough.  Solder?

Brent

This method of installing the foresight isn't at all rare on Virginia rifles and, later, on Southern Mountian rifles to the west.

Properly done it is very strong. I demonstrated that one time at a seminar by installing a sight in this manner then picking up the entire rifle barrel by the sight blade.

The trick is to undercut the ends of the slot so that in cross section it is actually shaped like a dove tail. Put slight bow in the bottom of the blade, drop it in the slot, and tap on it so that as it straightens out the ends spread into the undercuts.

Gary

[Steve Bookout]

I concur with Gary.  Just like inlaying gold.  Merry Christmas, Bookie

[northmn]

I drill the barrel with 5/64 bit which align to the cut down staple.  The staple is cut down to the depth of the holes and still takes the pin.  I then install and stake it in place with a chisel type punch I made out of a pin punch.  I also solder them in place with a soft solder.  They work like slotted underlugs and allow for swelling etc.  So far they have not failed me.  Some claim on thin barrels you can dimple the bore but I use more of a length wise hit when I install them and do not drill all that deep.  I tried a modified version for a keyed underlug out of wire and it works good also.  No it is not authentic, but it does not show and it works.  I can install 4 of these in about the time it takes me to file out and install one dovetailed underlug.

DP

[omark]

guess i stand corected, thank you.   mark