Replacing rear sight

[Wagon Wheel]

This might sound like sacrilege to some but has anybody found a replacement sight for the rear on the Taylor’s Spencer?  I'm not really impressed with the quality of this piece from Armi-Sport and would like to find something else.  Maybe something similar to what you would see on a Marlin lever gun or a Lyman peep sight.

WW

[French Jack]

Buffalo Arms has the Smith Enterprises after market replacement sights.  You need to get the proper size dovetail.  There are a couple of models that will work on the Spencer.  Their website is www.buffaloarms.com  ....

[geo]

replacing the rear sight on a spencer with anything other than the same style will make the carbine ineligible for nssa competition. have you considered a merit optical? this is acceptable in nssa competitions. geo.

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[Backstrap Bill]

Dovetail on my Spencer is 0.436".  Looks like I'll have to do a bit of looking to find a suitable replacement sight, or get a Smith Enterprises sight & make my own base. Unless Buffalo Arms has the correct base...

[Hell-Er High Water]

Wagon Wheel,

If it's the sight notch on the rear sight that's the problem, I had the same problem also.  Some of Taylor's earlier guns had one of the worst rear sight notches that you can imagine.  I bought a replacement sight leaf from Taylor's as I was going to modify the one that came with the rifle and wanted an original to put on if needed.  When the new one came it had a completly different shaped notch and has worked quite well for me.  You might try this before you start making special bases and all.  The new leaf doesn't cost very much and it is listed in the parts list that came with the rifle.

HHW

[French Jack]

Buffalo Arms has the Smith Enterprise rear sights with a .450 dovetail  base.  It is no problem to enlarge the slot to accept this base.
If you are going to shoot in NSSA, you can put on a plain blade rear made to fit the original dovetail.  This will give you a fixed sight with no elevation adjustment.  No loss, in my estimation, as the ones that come on the Taylors have no useable adjustment anyway-- the elevator has no detent to hold it in place.  Since I was not going to use the factory OEm sight as it had about .030 slop in the blade, I made my own which has a screw adjustment for windage.  No elevation adjustment, but I have the correct height to work up to about 75 yards with no holdover.  I may replace it eventually with one that is drift adjustable for windage, but due to the thickness of the butt stock, I have to offset the rear quite a bit.  It would look pretty funky with it drifted to one side that much.

[Backstrap Bill]

Yup, French Jack, that's exactly what I just did. 

Buffalo Arms has sight bases at 7/16 (0.44") and another at 0.45".  Since the factory rear sight on my Spencer is not snug @ .436", I ordered the buckhorn/ladder sight w/the 0.45" base.  It may not be "period" but at least I'll be able to get a good sight picture on Mr. Whitetail this fall.

I have a safe file for cutting dovetails.  Rather than cut the slot wider, though, I prefer to cut down the sight base.  I find it easier to replace a sight base than a barrel that ends up with an over-size dovetail slot.  By leaving the slot in the barrel alone, I'll be able to push the factory sight back in place when I play NCOWS.

I'll let all ya'll know just how this turns out.

[Sliprock]

I picked up an original at a gun show for $100.  Saw it on a Saturday but figured I' check out S&S for a repro.  The repro was $25 buckes more than the original.  I went back Sunday picked up the original.  It works fine for the short range but I can not lift the ladder, but that can be corrected.
Bruce 

[Backstrap Bill]

Received my new rear sight from Buffalo Arms Co.  It is the excellent Smith Enterprises buckhorn ladder sight on a base with a .450" dovetail.  Much better sight picture and ladder sight adjustments..If you haven't seen or owned one of the Smith Enterprises, you are missing a great sight.

My dovetail slot measures about 0.436".  I have a safe file for cutting dovetails.  I'll cut down the dovetail on the sight base rather than enlarge the dovetail slot in the barrel.  That way, I will be able to install the factory rear sight again should I ever get involved with the re-enactment crowd.

[Wagon Wheel]

Bill,

Any updates on getting your new sight installed?

WW

[Backstrap Bill]

Sight is installed & works great.  I have a good sight picture & an able to get 100 yard groups of 2-4 inches depending on the alloy used.  I get about 2-3" uwing Lyman No. 2, 3" with Wheel Weights & radiosiotope container alloy, 4" with 20:1.

[Two Flints]

Backstrap Bill,

Do you remember the exact model # of the Smith Enterprise sight you ordered from Buffalo Arms or the item # from their On-Line Catalog?

Two Flints

[Wagon Wheel]

I'm going to guess that it was item # SMI8003450.

WW

[Two Flints]

WW,

Is there a reason why you selected the full buckhorn sight over the semi buckhorn sight?  Dovetail dimensions are the same.  Just curious and for future reference.

Thanks,

Two Flints

[Wagon Wheel]

Two Flints, I was just making a guess as to which model Bill picked based on his description of buckhorn sight not semi buckhorn sight.  I myself would probably get the semi because it seems to have a lower overall profile.

WW

[Backstrap Bill]

I picked the full buckhorn because my primary use for the Spencer carbine will  be ridding the woods of some of them there pesky whitetails.  I have found  from past experience , using a bottom hold, the full buckhorn gives me a better sight picture in low light because it "frames" the deer.  That full buckhorn definitely sticks up a bit, but that won't bother the deer until the gun goes off.   

[Wagon Wheel]

That full buckhorn definitely sticks up a bit, but that won't bother the deer until the gun goes off.   

LOL, good one.  BTW, can you tell me where yo got the file you used to modify the sight dovetail?  Is it a special dovetail file?

WW

[Backstrap Bill]

The file was purchased from Brownell's.  It is a special file used for cutting dovetails. Product No. 080-648-060, "Sight Base File", $12.45.  www.brownells.com. 

Two files are available, a single cut & a double cut.  I chose the single cut as it easier to control a single cut file when doing fine work.  If you decide to widen the dovetail on the barrel (not recommended in my opinion) be sure to protect the finish on the barrel with masking tape around the dovetail in case you make a boo boo.