Help ID this front sight

[pjogrinc]

Can anyone help me ID this front sight on my 41 cal picket bullet target rifle I recently picked up ?? It say on it "Collins Patent Sep,1x,1865".

Tried to post images, but I don't think I did it right. Picks are at[url] www-k-p-brokenwheelranch.net/public_html/41calbpfrtsight[/url]

 

[AeroncaTAL]

pjogrinc,
The link doesn't appear to work, or at least doesn't for me...
Scott

 

[pjogrinc]

OKAY here are the pictures of the front sight, got it figured out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hope this works.

 

[LarryB]

I have never seen anything like it. Really neat. Thanks for the post

 

[Slamfire]

My Numrich underhammer came with the sight portion of that sight. It didn't have the adjustment though. :shake:

 

[arcticap]

I'm going to take a guess that I hope isn't just a stab in the dark. There was a world famous company located nearby in the small town of Collinsville, CT named the Collins Axe Company. From what I have researched, it was a leading industrial manufacturer of many steel implements including hatchets and axes, [including those used to build the Panama Canal], farm implements [plows, hoes], ice harvesting equipment, etc... starting in the 1830's and 40's. It was founded by 2 people by the name of Collins, one being a Samuel Collins.
Apparently, another famous individual by the name of Elisha K. Root went to work for the Collins Co., I believe after working for the Colt Firearms Company but I'm not certain. He held many patents regarding milling machines and manufacturing processes.[url] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_K._Root[/url] [url] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0040-165X(197410)15:4<543:EKRFAT>2.0.CO;2-F[/url]
There are many historical references to both the company and the mentioned individuals, and I wouldn't be surprised if this sight was made by the Collins Co..
This is all speculation of course, but at least it's something to ponder. :winking:

I recall meeting a lady at an antique gunshow here, that has a collection of Collins products and literature, and she mentioned how they made so many items over the years without any comprehensive record of them all [and all based on making their own steel]. They're scattered bits and pieces of it including what's in the Canton Museum collection, and in other private collections and recorded in journal articles. But I wouldn't even know how to begin to find you any real proof about any of this speculation, especially online. :hmm:

Click on "History of the Canton Historical Museum!!" for a little company background & click on the floor #'s to see a few product pictures.
[url] http://www.cantonmuseum.org[/url]/

 

[arcticap]

The Collins Co. may actually date back to the 1820's:[url] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0507(199103)51:1<244:IYTROT>2.0.CO;2-S[/url]

And here's something about the Collins family:
[url] http://eh.net/bookreviews/library/0523[/url]

 

[pjogrinc]

Thanks a lot folks, That will help me. Unfortunately, I'm at a stand still, waiting on the UPS damage claim on the stock. UPS said that I can not work on the gun until the claim is settled incase they want it for examination. YA RIGHT !!!! Been working on trying to get the sight adjustment to work, but no luck as of yet. It is still "stuck", I'm trying to think of what I can use to finish desolving the gung and crud without removing any of the aging on the sight. The best I've been able to come up with is to use break cleaner, like Powder Blast, to clean it. Any suggestions ??