rear sight on a smoothie

[TRIN]

Is it looked down upon to put a rear sight on a smoothbore?

 

[pathfinderifh]

If you plan on shooting at events that offer trade gun matches,rear sights are not allowed,as far as looking down on them, no,at least I don't for general shooting. I have a Northwest trade gun with a rear sight that I shoot rifle matches with and don't do too bad. Some originals have them,although they are the exeption,not the rule. Skinners are a bunch of individuals who take pride in recreating the old way's of doing things. :relax:Study of these things is half the fun. Enjoy the rear sight,just don't shoot trade gun matches with it. :sorry:

Pathfinder

 

[Mike Brooks]

It helps for shooting RB, but it gives me the willies for wing shooting.....

 

[AZ-Robert]

Just the first step towards a long rifle!

Anybody have an idea what the evolution was? Did rear sights, cheek rests, etc, show up on smoothies (and rifles) all at once? Or did it start with the sight, then the rest, then the hand rail...

 

[musketman]

Is it looked down upon to put a rear sight on a smoothbore?

No, it is your gun, you have the right to do with it as you please...

Yes, if you are going to a traditional smoothbore event with authentic sight and/or reenacting an era where rear sights were not yet installed on guns...

 

[FireMaker]

Rear sights have been used on flinters and matchlocks since they started. There are a number of examples in museums, etc. However, when origionally manufactured, they did not check with the NMLRA to get it approved.

Dont care about rules. Care about history.

 

[rudy parnell]

I'm about half threw with Dillins, "The Kentucky Rifle". Well, Mr.George Shumway edited this version that was printed in 1967 and the book says that about 5% of the rifles headed to the "Dark and Bloody Ground" were in fact rifle sighted smoothbores. They also say that about all the smoothbore type shooting was done in old rifled barreled guns that was past their accuracy as rifles...So, that would probably be that you was very likely to have a rear sight on and American Longrifle, be it a gun with rifle in it or without. That is what I understand them to say. And that is gunsmiths working out of Penn. where it all started. Oh! and since I am from NC, I was pleased to see that the Yeoman Family was making guns in Charlotte,NC very earily...1730's maybe? Anybody know any different... adios!

 

[TRIN]

Thanks for the all the replys. I want to be pc. but also want to hit what I'm shooting at so I'll probrobly be adding a rear sight. ???????? could a removeable rear sight be an option?
:thanks:

 

[AZ-Robert]

Just out of curiosity, are you going to solder it on or cut a dovetail? How much barrel thickness do you have back there?

 

[tzvia]

Thanks for the all the replys. I want to be pc. but also want to hit what I'm shooting at so I'll probrobly be adding a rear sight. ???????? could a removeable rear sight be an option?
:thanks:

I've only had a smoothbore (20g tradegun) for about 2 months, but find the lack of a rear sight no problem at all. I think of it as a shotgun that I can shoot round balls in. Just look down the top of the barrel, and stick that front site on the target and be sure that you dont see the top of the barrel, as you would a good shotgun mount. Your eyeball is the rear sight.

I thought it would never work at first myself, treating it as a 'rifle', but when I started using it like my shotguns it became very easy to use. :m2c:

Lois

 

[rudy parnell]

I have not had the thrill of shooting a smoothbore with only a front sight, but I think that you are exactly right. I also think that the guns were superbly balanced and fashioned so as to accomodate the marksman. It would be a shame to miss the point...[that's a little smile there]! Adios

 

[Rebel]

I used Super Glue to put a temporary rear sight on mine.

 

[George F.]

Yes it is possible. Ever since I saw the work of Keith Casteel, I have been in awe. He had a disappearing peep sight that folded up from the barrel tang, that when it was folded in the down position in nearly disappeared flush with the tang, I think he even engraved a fake screw where the tang screw would go. You would have to see it,unbelievable work.

 

[Doc Arroyo]

The "rear sight" on my smooth bore is the tang screw. The slot in the screw is aligned with the barrel. It doesn't stand above the top barrel plane, so it is legal for traditional smoohtbore matches. :thumbsup:

 

[thomas]

I use the tang screw slot, as a rear sight too. :thumbsup:

Thomas