Rear sight on a Model 1863 Springfield... Is it period?

[Cannonman1]

I am not familiar with this rear sight.. Its on a Model 1863 Rifle Musket.. What is it exactly?

 

[64Springer]

Not familiar with that either.

Doesn't appear to be a stock '63 rear sight.

That 700 yard setting is a tad optimistic.

 

[springfield art]

Not familiar with that either.

Doesn't appear to be a stock '63 rear sight.

That 700 yard setting is a tad optimistic.

I couldn't hit a target at 700 using the Space Telescope!

 

[Cannonman1]

Is it possible it's experimental?? ..Patina on the .58 cal barrel compared to sight is pretty uniform so its been on there a while.
I believe the Plymouth .69 cal rifle rear sight went to 1000 yds.. Sounds a bit optimistic as well.

 

[64Springer]

Found two online. Had to type in Experimental 1863 Rear Sight to find them. There has to be written documentation out there too.

Your rear sight is legit.

Damn fine find.

If this is your rifle.......NO...ABRASIVE...CLEANING.

 

[Cannonman1]

It is mine and on the way to me.. Absolutely agree. Patina is history and well deserved..
Thanks for your reply!!

 

[Cannonman1]

I did search and it came up as a Model 1866 Springfield trapdoor rear sight??

 

[Cannonman1]

I think they probably did experiment with them late in war and sight use carried into the production of the 1866. The fact its on a .58 cal. muzzleloading barrel is significant I would think
Stock is like new so I wonder if rifle was arsenal refit with a new sight for testing prior to adoption of the 66.. Who knows??
I do notice that rear sight on the 66 is reversed from the Civil War rifle musket configuration.

 

[Cannonman1]

One more observation is that the rear sight on my 1863 rifle musket has the range markings 3,5 and 7 marked on the opposite side that the 1866 sight does.. Being reversed, the markings were changed so the shooter could see them. This distinguishes a muzzle loading sight vs the trapdoor sight I would suppose.

 

[Tomski]

I have a 1863 original the parts are hard to find (original) took me over a year to find mine. Your sight looks like it's never been used good find

 

[Cannonman1]

Rifle's walnut stock would indicate that it was probably not issued as it still retains that feathery texture. Bore is minty as well. Interesting thing is that the height of the sight is basically the same as the standard Rifle Musket sight with another 200 yards added .. Using the same ammunition, that is curious isn't it?? Aiming at what was a set 500 yard elevation ..Now its supposed to be on target at 700 yards?
Standard sight vs one originally posted out to 700 yards

 

[Daveboone]

My original 1863 rear sight has a similar leaf sight, but now quite what you have (mine has been in the family over 100 years, so is very unlikely to have been changed). Mine doesnt have the apertures yours have.

 

[Cannonman1]

A thought,
Maybe this barrel was slated to be made into a trapdoor and the sight was attached in the standard fashion before the trapdoor modification and it never got to that point. Barrel was restocked post war and arsenal stored.
also...
Curious also that the hollow ground out cavity for each aperture is on the muzzle side with the 1863 2 leaf sight and on the breech side with the single leaf sight. The range numbers indicate it was meant to be mounted that way (numbers facing shooter) but an interesting departure from the 2 leaf sight.
Its obvious this is a unique sight but where it falls into the mix is a good question
also..
It appears the 700 yard sight came in with the 1866 conversion to 50/70 which explains the difference in range ability between the .58 and the .50 calibers. This would put this sight at that 1866 time frame I think.
Another possibility is this sight was put on as a surplus sight on the gun as a Bannermanesque composition musket for commercial sale and no one thought anything about matching parts... just that they fit.