Breechldrs Spencer Carbine Front Sight

[madlink]

I have an 1860 Spencer Repeating Rifle Carbine (mfg. about 1863) whose front sight appears to be missing an insert. Did this front sight actually have an insert, or am I just imagining things?

If it does have an insert, does anybody know what material that insert was made from?

 

[bobinwmass]

If like my rifle, looks like a brass insert.

 

[madlink]

If like my rifle, looks like a brass insert.

View attachment 440376

Does it look like there is a pin holding the brass insert in place?

 

[bobinwmass]

Does it look like there is a pin holding the brass insert in place?

To tell the truth, don't know and never looked that closely before. Here is the sight again cleaned up a bit and both sides that do have "shadow" in the same location. Maybe one of the experts can tell us if they were pinned in place.

 

[madlink]

Well, here is my front sight, which sure looks like there was a pin!

 

[bobinwmass]

Well, here is my front sight, which sure looks like there was a pin!
View attachment 440387

Matches the locations on my sight which are a slightly different color, so looks they were pinned and ground smooth.

 

[madlink]

So now I need to find parts! The only thing I have found so far is a complete front sight that needs to be soldered!

 

[bobinwmass]

So now I need to find parts! The only thing I have found so far is a complete front sight that needs to be soldered!

I thought I read someplace the front sight was integral to the barrel, and not attached after the barrel was made. If that's the case they wouldn't be soldered on.

 

[bayonet]

This is the front sight of my Spencer. Guess the Chap was shooting a little high so he moved the sight to correct it (maybe).

 

[madlink]

View attachment 440608This is the front sight of my Spencer. Guess the Chap was shooting a little high so he moved the sight to correct it (maybe).

Very interesting! I guess the urge to modify our guns started long ago!

 

[Story]

So now I need to find parts! The only thing I have found so far is a complete front sight that needs to be soldered!

How handy are you with a file, jewelers' saw, small drill and hammer?
You can make your own suitable replacement, either for 'looks' or live firing.

 

[Story]

Come to think of it, I've seen slices of period copper pennies used as replacement sight blades on a fair number of rifle/carbine front sights.

 

[madlink]

Come to think of it, I've seen slices of period copper pennies used as replacement sight blades on a fair number of rifle/carbine front sights.

Very cool! I don't have any period pennies, though!

 

[bobinwmass]

You can usually find holed coins like these on Ebay. All of these were purchased less than $10 apiece. Carefully cutting and placing so either the date or "United States" appeared at the top would look cool.

 

[Story]

You can usually find holed coins like these on Ebay. All of these were purchased less than $10 apiece. Carefully cutting and placing so either the date or "United States" appeared at the top would look cool.

And when you're done with the one you acquire, sell the rest of the coin for a couple of bucks to someone else making a front sight.

I need to do that for my trapdoor carbine, come to think of it.

 

[madlink]

Okay, I bought (cheap, because it was damaged) an 1862 penny! Here it is, though I should pin it in place:

 

[Old Soldier]

Looking through a number of illustrations, it seems as though the foresight BLOCK was integral with the barrel, but had a slot cut into it for the foresight blade. Was the hole and pin added afterwards or was it a later manufacturing add-on? Looking at a number of these, it seems the hole for the pin is in exactly the same place on all - in the center of the block, just below the round-over - which suggests it was 'design'.
I suspect the original blade was BRASS, as many were at this time. It looks as if it was a blade originally, but could easily be replaced with a bead or even a ball in later life. If it fitted into that slot, it would need to be secure, otherwise the recoil would have dislodged it. Some appear to have no pin at all and some show that pin. The brass blade also seems to be dovetailed onto an iron one to hold the pin on some of them.
Brass wears over time, altering the zero. However, if you replace that brass one with an iron one, it will need securing. It also seems as if the receiving slot was deepened on a few for that purpose too.
(photos from College Hill Arsenal (sold) 1 x rifle, 2 x carbine)

One of the photos from bobinwmass above suggests that the foresight BLOCK was reshaped into a 'bead' sight.

 

[madlink]

Looking through a number of illustrations, it seems as though the foresight BLOCK was integral with the barrel, but had a slot cut into it for the foresight blade. Was the hole and pin added afterwards or was it a later manufacturing add-on? Looking at a number of these, it seems the hole for the pin is in exactly the same place on all - in the center of the block, just below the round-over - which suggests it was 'design'.
I suspect the original blade was BRASS, as many were at this time. It looks as if it was a blade originally, but could easily be replaced with a bead or even a ball in later life. If it fitted into that slot, it would need to be secure, otherwise the recoil would have dislodged it. Some appear to have no pin at all and some show that pin. The brass blade also seems to be dovetailed onto an iron one to hold the pin on some of them.
Brass wears over time, altering the zero. However, if you replace that brass one with an iron one, it will need securing. It also seems as if the receiving slot was deepened on a few for that purpose too.
(photos from College Hill Arsenal (sold) 1 x rifle, 2 x carbine)
View attachment 445578View attachment 445579

View attachment 445583

One of the photos from bobinwmass above suggests that the foresight BLOCK was reshaped into a 'bead' sight.

Wow, thx for the cool info and pictures!

 

[bobinwmass]

Yes, the front sight block was integral to the barrel, made when the barrel was made. The brass blade insert on mine is showing wear in the front from the bayonet being mounted on and off over the years.