Author Topic: Primitive peep sights (Read 2487 times)

MuskratMike · « **on:** August 16, 2025, 10:23:56 PM »

HELP!!!
I am considering having one more gun built. It of course will be a late 1790's to early 1800's flintlock probably from the Appalachian Mountain area. I don't care about shooting in registered events with it so I am thinking about a peep sight on the tang as my eyes are going bad. To be more specific I am thinking about a ghost ring since I plan to hunt with it and have found ghost rings work better than peep sights do for hunting. In fact it probably won't have a rear sight or even a dovetail cut into the barrel. I used them for years on early lever guns and still do use them. I can acquire the target quickly and if it has a bead front sight centering the bead is quick and accurate. They are still made that are adjustable for windage and elevation but I would want one that looks like it was from the period and area the rifle represents.
Does anyone out there make them or have decent photos of some with descriptions I can forward to my maker if I pull the string on this build? I guess if it only was adjustable for elevation that would be fine as I can always drift the front sight.

MuskratMike · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2025, 04:21:52 AM »

No out there can help?

foresterdj · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2025, 04:57:14 AM »

Look at Muzzleloader Builder Supply, They show the Johnson peep in stock, only $24. Looks like it belongs on a flinter.

David Rase · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2025, 06:33:50 AM »

https://rggunsmithing.com Scroll down on Randy's web page and you will see a couple of different peep sights.
David

Scota4570 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2025, 07:07:42 AM »

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2025, 03:40:53 PM »

I made up this old 'relic' a while back and rigged up a very primitive peep that was elevation adjustable. Windage adjust is front sight. I'm pretty sure I've seen old peep sights like this but can't remember where. This one is screwed (2 screws) into the barrel but it could also be dovetailed which would involve a bit more material work with the long forward section. IIRC, the elevation adjustment is simply a knurled 'bolt' w/ a fine thread that is threaded into the tang. The whole thing was meant to be extremely primitive and I think it looks good on a flint piece.

http://www.erickettenburg.com/bear-carbine.html

Robby · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2025, 06:16:05 PM »

That is pretty darn cool Eric! And the sight too!
Robby

bobw · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2025, 06:23:44 PM »

I had an original New York made rifle (1840-50’s) that had a rear sight very similar to what Eric is showing. Unfortunately, I had it for years but never took pictures of it and sold it last winter. Like Eric’s there was an adjustment for elevation. It was a neat way to get a peep on a muzzleloader and someday I will make one like it.
Bob

recurve · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2025, 06:35:36 PM »

Lowel Haarer made https://www.lowellhaarer.com/

home made from brass strapping

home made cut and sand to shape
I co witness to barrel sights

MuskratMike · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2025, 08:43:13 PM »

Thanks to all that helped me out. Now i have a place to start.

Ky-Flinter · « **Reply #10 on:** August 18, 2025, 07:57:10 PM »

Quote from: Eric Kettenburg on August 17, 2025, 03:40:53 PM

http://www.erickettenburg.com/bear-carbine.html

From the replies a few people have been able to get to Eric's website, but I'm getting a "403 Forbidden" error. Is anyone else having this problem? I've cleared my cache, browsing history and cookies. No help. I guess it's my overzealous AV/Firewall program.

Ron

rich pierce · « **Reply #11 on:** August 18, 2025, 08:59:07 PM »

it's working for me.

MuskratMike · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2025, 02:30:25 AM »

I was able to see Eric's peep but couldn't down load it as my computer said it was from a unsecure site and blocked me from downloading any of the pictures. Too bad because just like anything Eric makes it is seriously cool. Might ask him to see if he can send a closeup to me as an attachment to an email.

foresterdj · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2025, 02:40:01 AM »

Not HC, but seriously cool.

proud2bgeeky · « **Reply #14 on:** August 19, 2025, 04:06:38 AM »

Eric's site isn't running HTTPS so most browser's default security settings will block it. If you dig into your security settings you can bypass them and get to the site but here are a few of the better close up pictures of the sights. It is a really beautiful, cool, and unique looking rifle.

snapper · « **Reply #15 on:** August 19, 2025, 04:24:50 AM »

Come to think of it several years ago William Young gave me a peep sight like these to use. Being younger I did not need it at the time and gave it I believe to TOF. Dave do you still have it?

Fleener

homerifle · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2025, 06:13:09 AM »

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=15105.msg141784#msg141784

There is an original peep sight on this post.

Scota4570 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 19, 2025, 07:53:57 AM »

A peep sight need to be near the shooter's eye to work properly.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #18 on:** August 19, 2025, 03:13:44 PM »

Sorry about the site issues. I haven't been able to do anything with it for years now. One of these days I'm going to have to get some dedicated help to get it straightened out and back up and running. Lots to add.

Eric Krewson · « **Reply #19 on:** August 19, 2025, 04:29:25 PM »

Every time the peep topic comes up I post the one I made when I couldn't my sights anymore. It was a "beoch" to bend the sight base to match the tang on my rifle, I bent the peep up so the front and rear sight were perfectly aligned for a shot when I shouldered my rifle.

Start;

Done except for filing out the hammer marks and cleaning things up a bit to be more "professional" looking.

Mounted and adjusted;

In service in a blind I made out of a pile blocks my neighbor left behind his barn, no deer showed up that day to feed in the field I was watching.

Then I had cataract surgery and don't need the peep anymore.

whetrock · « **Reply #20 on:** August 19, 2025, 06:16:18 PM »

Nicely done, Eric. What size was the hole?

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2025, 10:44:31 PM »

Good grief primitive sights don’t have to look like they were made in prison. Those old boys could do some pretty respectable work with minimal tools. After all they had plenty of time with no TV, cell phones, and computers.

Hungry Horse

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #22 on:** August 20, 2025, 01:05:01 AM »

Quote from: whetrock on August 19, 2025, 06:16:18 PM

Nicely done, Eric. What size was the hole?

Off the top of my head I don't remember, but it was pretty small, under 1/16". I think maybe somewhere between .040 and .050.

whetrock · « **Reply #23 on:** August 20, 2025, 01:08:00 AM »

Quote from: Eric Kettenburg on August 20, 2025, 01:05:01 AM

Quote from: whetrock on August 19, 2025, 06:16:18 PM
Nicely done, Eric. What size was the hole?

Off the top of my head I don't remember, but it was pretty small, under 1/16". I think maybe somewhere between .040 and .050.

And the buttstock is removable, in concept, at least?

Joe Stein · « **Reply #24 on:** August 20, 2025, 03:33:28 AM »

There has been an original Bedford Rifle by Daniel Border on the wall at Dixon's for years that has a sight a along the idea of what E. K. Put on his pistol, attached to the barrel and extending over the tang. Instead of having a flat face, it has an octagonal funnel shaped shade extending about an inch behind the aperture.
If I can figure out the picture posting procedure for this forum I will post a picture of the sight.
-Joe Stein

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Author Topic: Primitive peep sights (Read 2487 times)