1853 Enfield Rear Sight

[John V]

I was looking at a popular sight for Cvil War rifle parts out of New York and looking specifically at rear sights for 1853 Enfields. They list rear sights ladder bars graduated up to "8" or "10" with the "8's" being more expensive for some reason.

Interstingly they state that the "8's" are for 3-band Enfields and the "10's" are for "British" Enfields. Does this mean that the "10" rear sights are incorrect for ACW Enfields (from commercial providers out of Birmingham & London)? Was the '10" sight for British Army use or perhaps Snyder Enfields post Civil War? They don't look that differnt to me other than the gradatiosn and very minor differnces. I welcome your replies

 

[JOHN42768]

The ladder should be marked to 8 with the top notch for 900 . Since all period Enfields were made in Britain, guessing the 10 marked might be for a sporting rifle.

 

[Craig L Barry]

The reproduction rear sight--Armi Sport (I think)--is graduated to 10, the original P53 rear sights were 800 yds with a notch for 9. Why would the reproduction go to 10? I guess it's like the movie "This is Spinal Tap" where the guitar amps go up to 11.

Side note, if I'm not mistaken the two-band P56 rear sight was graduated to 1100 yds, which would be 10 with a notch for 11. Without getting into too much unnecessary detail, the two band Enfield rifle was an entirely different design, not a cut down P53 long rifle. Maybe that's what the Italian reproductions copied?

 

[John V]

The reproduction rear sight--Armi Sport (I think)--is graduated to 10, the original P53 rear sights were 800 yds with a notch for 9. Why would the reproduction go to 10? I guess it's like the movie "This is Spinal Tap" where the guitar amps go up to 11.

Side note, if I'm not mistaken the two-band P56 rear sight was graduated to 1100 yds, which would be 10 with a notch for 11. Without getting into too much unnecessary detail, the two band Enfield rifle was an entirely different design, not a cut down P53 long rifle. Maybe that's what the Italian reproductions copied?

Actually I am seeing definately original Enfield rear sights for sale that are marked up to 10 on the slide. The side of the sight is marked 1-4. If I understand this correctly then this is not a correct rear sight for a 1853 Type 3 musket from the Civil War and if I want to be accurate I should only procure a rear side graduated up to 8....the 10 rear sight would likely be correct for a Model 1856 (or maybe later?) Enfiled.

Correct?

 

[JOHN42768]

So if you want correctness, go with an 8 marked. I'm guessing S&S as a replacement part. So maybe that would explain the different versions for original and for a repo.

 

[Specster]

The reproduction rear sight--Armi Sport (I think)--is graduated to 10, the original P53 rear sights were 800 yds with a notch for 9. Why would the reproduction go to 10? I guess it's like the movie "This is Spinal Tap" where the guitar amps go up to 11.

Side note, if I'm not mistaken the two-band P56 rear sight was graduated to 1100 yds, which would be 10 with a notch for 11. Without getting into too much unnecessary detail, the two band Enfield rifle was an entirely different design, not a cut down P53 long rifle. Maybe that's what the Italian reproductions copied?

You are the best

 

[John V]

Actually I am seeing definately original Enfield rear sights for sale that are marked up to 10 on the slide. The side of the sight is marked 1-4. If I understand this correctly then this is not a correct rear sight for a 1853 Type 3 musket from the Civil War and if I want to be accurate I should only procure a rear side graduated up to 8....the 10 rear sight would likely be correct for a Model 1856 (or maybe later?) Enfield.

Correct?

Here is one of the sights by the way