One Pound Front Sights

[Coal Creek Griff]

Tweet

Actually, they're not as heavy as you'd think  .

I have needed to replace a couple of front sight blades recently and I was casting about for an appropriate material to work with.  I ended up using £1 coins from the UK.  The metal has a slight yellow/gold/brass appearance throughout.  The coins were easy to work with and somehow look right to me.  They also offer good visibility, especially against dark-colored targets.

Now, I’m not the craftsman that many here are, but the remaining marks and unfinished appearance seem to fit with the “old” guns.  I also kept the original rim of the coin on the Henry sight, so it has a neat engraving pattern.  That meant removing the sight and filing it from the base as I sighted it in, but it was worth the effort.

These may not be as “authentic”  as a Cinco Pesos or something, but they have worked well for me.

CC Griff

[Blair]

CCG,

German Silver is a good substitute. In fact it was the most common metal used for front sights.
It has no "real" silver in it. It is nickel and tin for the most parts.
Soft, easy to work with, and comes in a wide variety of thicknesses.
Just a suggestion on my part.
My best,
 Blair

[Coal Creek Griff]

Well, I considered German silver, but I couldn't put my hands on any when I did the sight for the Richards-Mason revolver in the photo.  The one pound coin worked so well that I used the remainder of the same coin for the Henry sight.

CC Griff

[Coffinmaker]

CC Griff,

Uber KOOL!!  I like em.  Look really good.

Coffinmaker

[Coal Creek Griff]

Thanks, Coffinmaker!  That's high praise; you're one of the master craftsmen that I mentioned in my initial post.

CC Griff

[Major 2]

Nice nice ....silver coins were used as replacements , I've seen more than few old dimes used

[Coffinmaker]

Ah Harrumph >>>>>>>

I neglected in my praise, to mention, out on the end of the barrel, a "One Pound" front sight will tend to make it rifle just a tad
MIZZLE HEAVY   

Coffinmaker

[Trader Dan]

The Queen would not be happy knowing you used a one pound coin for a gun sight.


God save the Queen!

[Coal Creek Griff]

Should she wish me to remove the sights, I'm available for a phone call at any time  .

[Roscoe Coles]

I made a replacement barrel for an 1865 Spencer carbine a number of years ago (long before you could get a reproduction Spencer).  I made an integral sight block (by turning a ring the size of the base I wanted then cutting off everything but the base once the barrel was installed).  for the sight blade I used an original 1860 dime in a slot in the base, held in by a small pin.  I figured that using a period dime made up for the slightly non standard front sight.  I made sure to use the part with date on it.  The dime was far from in good condition when I got it, less than $5 at an antique store.

[Virginia Gentleman]

Very nice indeed!

[greyhawk]

Well, I considered German silver, but I couldn't put my hands on any when I did the sight for the Richards-Mason revolver in the photo.  The one pound coin worked so well that I used the remainder of the same coin for the Henry sight.

CC Griff

old cutlery!! most anything that was silver plated is solid german silver - old spoons n forks - I used a piece out of an old table fork just recently to replace the blade in an original winchester 73 front sight. 

[Forty Rod]

The Queen would not be happy knowing you used a one pound coin for a gun sight.


God save the Queen!

Maybe that's why we got rid of queens and kings a couple of hundred years back.  Too much trouble to keep them happy.

[Professor Marvel]

Maybe that's why we got rid of queens and kings a couple of hundred years back.  Too much trouble to keep them happy.

Hey Forty Rod - Good you see you back!
are you getting as much smoke in the air as albuquerque?
yhs
prof marvel