flip up style rear sight for flintlock

[chironomidkraut]

I was at the range yesterday and I seen a guy who had a flip up style rear sight on his flintlock rifle, what kind of sight would this be?
I was not able to chat with the guy but it looked like a slick little setup

 

[Loyalist Dave]

How 'bout a folding rear leaf sight from a German Jaeger rifle?

LD

 

[Rifleman1776]

Could be handy for some uses. But in matches that require fixed sights it would be ruled illegal. More better to have proper fixed sights that are zeroed in for your rifle.

 

[rafterob]

A buck horn sight can be used for added elevation out to 200 yards or so.

 

[chironomidkraut]

How 'bout a folding rear leaf sight from a German Jaeger rifle?

LD

it actually kinda looked like a peep site for a bow
can u guys post pics of the possibilities it could be, I wouldn't mind getting one

 

[Rifleman1776]

How 'bout a folding rear leaf sight from a German Jaeger rifle?

LD

it actually kinda looked like a peep site for a bow
can u guys post pics of the possibilities it could be, I wouldn't mind getting one

There have been scads of them on different kinds of rifles through the centuries.
Searches of makers and vendors will find you many.

 

[Vaino]

Because of the limited range of MLers, don't really see any need for a "flip up" rear leaf sight. If we agree that 100 yds or slightly more is the maximum range of most MLers, why have this type of sight?. The many fixed sights on MLers attest to the fact that a "leaf sight" is not necessary....Fred

 

[kaintuck]

Fred...it's for them thar Santa Ana shots off'in the Alamo wall~ :rotf:

 

[Ft. Jefferson]

You're joke'n, right?

 

[chironomidkraut]

You're joke'n, right?

bad eye sight in my left eye... need all the help I can get :grin:

 

[M. De Land]

Naaaah, the Siminloes used them for their routine 400 yards shots to knock off troops in the trenches in Florida! :rotf: MD

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

Every single military rifle used by the British during our rebellion, had flip up sights for longer ranges. The Ferguson Rifle, the 1776 Tower Rifle, the 1776 Pistor Military issued Jaeger Rifle and the earlier privately owned Jaeger rifles prior to 1777. An honorable mention to the 1806 Baker rifle. All of these rifles were designed for European open field combat. The earlier Jaegers were sighted in for long range hunting in the mountains.

 

[George]

Because of the limited range of MLers, don't really see any need for a "flip up" rear leaf sight.

Most of us would agree with that, but....

Pro: George Hanger, talking about his experience in this country during AWI, said: "Gentlemen, I can assure you, on my word, that the American riflemen have but one sight behind to their guns: I mean, by this, that they have no rising-sight, by which to give their guns a greater degree of elevation; and that one sight is not above two sixteenths of an inch in height above the barrel."

But remember, he's the one who reported an American rifleman shooting and nearly hitting him and Tarlington at 400 yards.

Con: Beaufroy, 1808, describing British rifle technology, said: "But supposing 300 yards be adapted as the utmost required range, we see no objection to having two flaps, viz. one filed down till point blank at 200 or 150, and the other at the 300 yards: or if 400 be taken as the utmost, let the sights be for 250 and 400 yards."

Here are some of the sights discussed:



Here is a 250 yard target, circles 4", 10" and 18":



Spence

 

[Amikee]

Here is one on my Made in USA CVA Plains/Hawken rifle

 

[chironomidkraut]

Here is one on my Made in USA CVA Plains/Hawken rifle

Looks real nice

 

[Spikebuck]

I have one identical to Figure 2 on my Jaeger. Not because I plan to use it for hunting or anything, but because I understand it to have been a common sight on Jaegers and also because I may just play around someday on the gun range at some "excessive" distances just to see what I can do.

As always, thanks for the historical info! I always find it very interesting.