Rear sight on Trade Gun

I'm considering putting a rear sight on a NSW Early English Trade Gun. I'd like to find one of the Brass ones I've seen on some French Trade Guns. Would they be soldered on or a dove tail cut into the barrel? Your thoughts?

Early? The Type G (Carolina gun) had a grand honking rear sight. Quite unique. Give er a google. Dovetailed.

teakmtn said:

I'm considering putting a rear sight on a NSW Early English Trade Gun. I'd like to find one of the Brass ones I've seen on some French Trade Guns. Would they be soldered on or a dove tail cut into the barrel? Your thoughts?

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The Type-G sight was in a shallow dovetail I believe.

The rear sights on a Caywood tradegun are very useful. It comprises a small base that is soldered to the barrel with a small windage adjustable slotted rear sight that is dove tailed to the base. They were available in steel and brass in the past.

Here’s the correct rear sight on my Jack Brooks Type G. Shallow dovetailed. Notice by the position of the frizzen spring how far back they were mounted. Works very nicely.

Does anyone know where this type of sight can be purchased? I bought one from Clay Smith a few years back, but he has been out of stock for a couple of years now. Track of the Wolf sells pieces of brass that are large enough to be filed into shape.

You may have to file one out for yourself. Clay had some cast ones a while back but hasn't for a couple of years AFAIK.

I just learned on another thread that Jack Brooks used to sell type g kits. Maybe he has a sight laying around.

Hey Bob, that is exactly the type of rear sight I had in mind. I did see that Clay was out of stock on his web sight. I think I'm pretty sold on the idea of a rear sight. I was carrying it around on my dog walk the other day and they treed a nice bear. Looking down the barrel at the bear and felt I could not feel right taking a shot not having a positive sight picture. Good thing we don't have a spring bear season, so no dilemma.

You might try The Rifle Shoppe for a Type G rear sight.

The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. - English Type G Trade Gun Rear Sight (192)

plmeek said:

You might try The Rifle Shoppe for a Type G rear sight.

The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. - English Type G Trade Gun Rear Sight (192)

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They do show one in their catalog.

I recently acquired a NW trade gun here on the forum through a trade with another member. Sitting Fox .62 LH, Queen Ann L&R Lock. Colerain 42” barrel.

No rear sight of course. Took it out to the range last week to work up a load combo. Benched it and with a little experimenting I came up with descent shot groups.

Next I shot standing unsupported off hand at a suspended 9” steel plate at 50 yds.

Definitely had major problems with no rear sight. Accuracy 50%.

Brought with me a rear sight to tape on to the barrel. Moved the sight up and down the barrel until I had a crystal clear sight picture. Taped the sight down and continued to shoot for the rest of the afternoon. Accuracy increased to 95% on that steel plate.

Later on in the evening I soldered the rear sight in its selected place on the barrel.

Thought I’d rather solder the rear sight on verses cutting a dove tail into the barrel. My reasoning was vision change down the road that we all will experience to some degree sooner or later? Besides I didn’t want to have to plug the dove tail cut into the barrel when the time came.

Anyway,I happened to have a rear sight on hand that I’d bought for my Harpers Ferry 1803. Decided to keep the original sight on the rifle so this was a spare.

Here are a few pictures of that sight installed on my NW trade gun, and if your interested the sight can be acquired from TOW.

Thanks for baring with me my friends.

Respectfully, Cowboy

Nothing wrong with that. The only change I would make is to dress the sides of the sight base to blend into the barrel so that there is less chance of snagging the sight on clothes or brush. This should be done prior to soldering the sight to the barrel. I'm sure some here will stick their noses up in the air over a rear sight on a fowler, but hitting the target is more important than historical accuracy for most of us.

Nice job there, Cowboy! I know the early English trade guns typically had brass rear sights, but we also know the end users frequently modified their guns to suit their needs. You came up with a practical solution for an improved sight picture, and did a very neat installation. If it had been me, I probably would have slopped solder everywhere and put the sight on crooked.

Good work!

Notchy Bob

I can’t shoot well without rear sight. So I added rear sights to all smoothies I’ve owned. I’ve seen many old guns with edges of sights exposed.

that is one HELLEVA SOLDIERING JOB!! KUDDOS TO YOU!