Help on front sight for a Kentucky

[Steve French]

I need a little help here with replacing a front site on a Kentucky rifle. The other day I went to a local gun store and found a flintlock Kentucky rifle and I only paid $75.00 for it. I can tell from the style that it's a CVA kit rifle and who ever built it did a very good job at building it. The front sight is missing. The dovetail is there but the blade is gone, there's just a hole where it was. Can that be repaired or is it easier to buy a sight and replace it. Dixie Gunworks has them for only $4.50. The rear sight is 1/4" tall, should the front sight be the same hight, taller, or shorter. The two sights I found from Dixie are either a little taller or a little shorter than the back sight. Should I get the taller or shorter sight or try to fix the one I have? I hope you understand what I'm talking about.

Thank you for your help, Pustic

 

[necchi]

I git it, the base is there but the blade is missing.(typical)
It's easyest to just drive the dovetail base out and replace the entire thing.
Most times with fixed sights, the elevation adjustment is made by filing the front blade lower or installing a taller blade.
Given that, I'd replace the front with the tallest one available so I have room to move when I'm adjusting. it's easier too file more than un-file something or wish you had a taller blade. :wink:

 

[Zonie]

Pustic
The finished front sight will be shorter than the rear sights height.

That said, I agree with necchi. Get the sight that is as tall or taller than the rear sight.

It is easy to file the installed front sight down to zero the gun and then fair the filed surface to look like a finished sight should look.

You can follow this link to Track of the Wolfs Metric front sight. It has the .360 wide metric dovetail sized base on it and it should be a "tap it in" installation. http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Cate...=14&subId=167&styleId=761&partNum=FS-MET-BEAD

While your there you can look for the other 7 pages of front sights that are available but most of these will have the 3/8" dovetail (or larger) which is slightly too large to fit into your barrels dovetail groove.
That is easily fixed with a small file to narrow the dovetail down to suit your barrel if you choose to go that route.

 

[Steve French]

Thank you for your help. I was also thinking of the taller sight, that way I can whittle it to zero.

Pustic

 

[Steve French]

Thank you for your help and the link to Track of the wolf. They might have just what I need. I'll compare that with Dixie and come up with the one I need. They both have sights that will work, I just need to find the tallest and go with that.

Pustic

 

[radioread]

Just make sure you use a safe file. (one with the cutting edge ground off one or two sides). It is easy to screw up the groove with a three sided cutting edge file and then the silver solder or a new sight with a larger base comes into play.

Frank, Jr.

 

[rafterob]

You will probably find this out but Dixie has (or used to have ) a minimum shipping of $15. TOW is better on small items and Deer Creek ( who has CVA replacement parts) will ship for actual cost, no handling fees.