Rear sight on smoothbore

[KHickam]

My fowler has a standard dovetail cut on the flats and was wondering recommendations for a good period rear sight in case I want to get one. :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Ou don't need much of a rear sight on a fowler. I recommend a low-- very LOW-- open rear sight, with a very wide notch, and minimum height on the "ears". A scratch line in the middle of the bottom of the notch at the backside, is all your eye will need to quickly " Center " the front bead in the notch to eliminate windage, and canting problems. If your fowler has a blade front sight, instead of a bead, the center reference will work, too. You can mark the back of the front sight to shoot round balls at various distances, using bars to tell you how much of the sight to hold UP in the notch for the longer distances.

 

[shootemup]

Agreed, don't need much -

 

[tg]

I think I used one from TOW part #RS-sch14 or 16 if I recall and filed it down low and kept it plain and flat with a notch to suit the front sight, any simple flat top rear sight that is low enough should suffice, you may find some pics of original smoothie rear sights if you come up with the right books.I think they make a blank you can make your own as desired.

 

[JackAubrey]

Usually on a fowler,your eye is the rear sight,as it were.Remember,we're not going for sub-m.o.a. groups w/ a fowler :wink: best regards,J.A.

 

[tg]

I think on some European fowlers rear sights were not uncommon, some trade guns had them and many trade guns were just cheaper versions of the civilian fowlers of the time, rear sights are pretty well accepted by most history buffs on fowlers, trade guns, hunting guns, and such.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

TG is right. Some originals I have seen had rear sights.
There are only a handful of people who use a fowler these days for wingshooting. Most want to use it like a rifle or musket to shoot a single projectile and an occasional "aimed" kill for a rabbit or tree rat with shot. More of a slug gun than a shotgun. That being the case, I would want a rear sight as well.

Heck, if I were to go that far I might as well go with a rifled barrel. :grin:

 

[KHickam]

Jack - I went out and shot a 68XXXX today at 25 yds with my fowler. I am reasonably confident at 50 yds with it. Was just curious.

Keith

 

[Leatherbark]

I put an old Colt 1911 rear sight on my Carolina Smoothbore........Filed it some to make it look like it belonged there...........It was the old colt rear sight with the tiny U notch. Bob

 

[KHickam]

Boy - that reply to Mr Aubrey - came out different than I meant it - I am sorry for that. :redface:

 

[Stormrider51]

I did the same as Leatherbark. I used an old rear sight off a Model 1911 pistol. It looks like it belongs there and put my smoothie to shooting to point of aim at 50 yards.

Storm

 

[cptleo1]

got one on my canoe gun

but

not on my Tulle

 

[Stophel]

European smoothbore guns will basically NOT have rifle type rear sights. They will sometimes have a large "U" groove or "butterfly" rear sight, in the Spanish style, often attached with a barrel band that wraps around the forearm. Sometimes the barrel tang is raised and there is a U groove in it. Some of the early English trade guns have a really wierd looking rear sight. I wouldn't call it a "U" groove, but it's not a normal rifle type sight either.

Remember, "period correct" rear sight means really small "V" notch! :grin:

 

[tg]

I have seen the rear sights on originals, I started to make one for my fusil but am happy how it shoots with out one, my recomendation for a rear sight on an American fowler or an English fowler in America was fron an after market point of view,something small and simple.

 

[trent/OH]

I did the same as Leatherbark. I used an old rear sight off a Model 1911 pistol. It looks like it belongs there and put my smoothie to shooting to point of aim at 50 yards.

Come to think of it, the 1911 IS almost a century old. Not exactly 250 years to get back to "the day", but certainly getting up there.