45 pistol sight

[ed lundquist]

Finishing up this pistol and one day I want a rear sight and the next, not so much. Would a rear sight be a significant factor if you were interested in a pistol? 7 1/2" rifled barrel.

[smylee grouch]

Ask yourself if the gun will be shot in completion  and if so what kind of matches would you want to shoot it in. A rear sight would I think make it easier to be consistent.

[Daryl]

ditto

[ed lundquist]

I believe I will let consistency win and put the sight on. Thanks.

[foxm2015]

In the B.P. Shooting section of the Forum there is a thread on making rear smoothbore peep sights.   This same principle could work for a notched rear sight.   Another possibility would be a magnetic rear sight.   There was an article in a recent issue of Muzzleloader that detailed this process.   This may work also, depending on the barrel flat area, magnets able to be sourced, and clearance around lock.  Some work, but may help define direction going forward.

Another option would be to file / create a "reference notch" at the junction of the barrel and breech plug.   Lots of historical example for this too.   

As was stated, how much and how serious is the match competion going to be?

All the best going forward if adding to a great looking piece.

[Dan Herda]

I would definitely go with a sight, being it a rifled barrel.

[Daryl]

Beautiful piece of wood, too.  In my .54 bl. I drilled 2 tiny holes in the tang, right behind the breech plug and CA'd two dome headed short pins into the holes.
These act as an excellent rear sight with the blade front sight. They are not visible unless actually look at them, or aiming down the barrel.

[ed lundquist]

Dan,yeah it seems I'm going to do it. The problem for me is that sometimes the gun looks so graceful, but I tend to over analyze sometimes. Thanks again for the great piece of wood, I still have another to look forward to.     Daryl, If I am visualizing that right it may be just the subtle sight I'm looking for. I was about to inlet a sight on the tang but I like the pin idea better. Any pics? Thanks!
  Fox, that is something I want to try, the notch, I'm pretty sure it wont be on this pistol but I have another that it will work on soon. Thanks for the suggestion.

[flinchrocket]

I like Daryls pin idea. On a pistol you don't need much, just something as a reference point. Perhaps a couple shotgun beads.

[ed lundquist]

Flinchrocket, I think I am leaning in that direction. I recently saw a peep that appeared to be made from a brass sheet sandwiched between or inlet between barrel and breech/tang, i liked that alot. I haven't figured that one out yet.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Apeep sight only works when you can bring your eye right adjacent the peep sight.  A pistol is held at arms length, s a peep sight would be useless.  For Daryl's pistol sight, we used two small escutcheon nails with domed heads.  We drilled holes to receive them into the tang and tapped them in.  They hardly show yet provide a suitable reference when aiming the gun.

[Daryl]

Just took a couple pictures.

[ed lundquist]

Daryl. that is exactly as I pictured it. I took a couple #4 shot and soldered them in, had some trouble  getting everything aligned. Hopefully I can file or adjust the front sight as needed. I am happy with the appearance. Thanks for the input. Now to shoot it. 


photo hoster

[Daryl]

Looks good.