Rear sights?

[sooter76]

Just curious how common rear sights were on Fusil de Chasse smoothbores? Were any Fusils made intentionally with rear sights or were these simply added on at later dates?

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I believe the evidence at this point (from surviving examples) is that fusils and trade guns made for deer hunting (vs. those strictly for birding) mostly but not always had rear sights.

LD

 

[lbothell]

Agreed, I was speaking with Greg from Dixons muzzleloader a couple weeks back about this same thing. I got a trade gun off him and asked if it would be periodically correct if I was to put a rear sight on it. He said even though they didn't mostly come with a rear sight a lot of guys would cut a V type valley to line up the front sight with or even put a rear sight on. Gregs dad showed me a gun where he took a chisel and made a hump for a rear sight. Once he had an idea of where it was grouping he then filled in a V in the raised metal.

 

[tenngun]

About ten percent of known trade guns are fitted with some sort of rear sight. Many were a flake as above, some with braised on or dovetailed sights. Rear sights on smoothies goes back to match lock days.
Today's 'no rear sight' rule in trade gun matches is an attempt to give a level playing field to people the have average trade guns, not to reflect real historical gun match.
I put a rear sight on my smoothies, it does not make the gun more accurate. Guys with sans rear sight trade guns can rival my rifle shooting at fifty yards. I do find it a lot easier to shoot, so it's nothing more then a handy crutch for me.

 

[Eterry]

The reverse is also true. My dad had an Ithica Deerslayer 12 ga with rifle sights. He smoked many a covey of quail and scores of ducks fell to it under his hands. The guy he got it from couldn't hit a gallon bucket tossed in the air.

 

[hanshi]

I've gathered the same impression; a great many smoothbores of various types were fitted with rear sights. I have one on my flintlock fowler as does my hunting partner.

 

[Crow#21957]

Hanshi could you PM me a pic of the rear sight on your Fowler
Thankyou very much

 

[bud in pa]

Somewhere I have Kevin Gladzys book on French fowlers. There is a drawing of a fowler with a rear sight. It looked like a butterfly . If I was computer literate I could probably draw a picture of it. If I find the book I will take a picture of it and try to get one of the kids to help me post it.

 

[Crow#21957]

Thanks Bud

 

[rich pierce]

I’ve never seen a rear sight on an original French trade gun. Northwest guns and Carolina guns, yes. There might be some out there.

 

[waksupi]

If you put one on, keep in mind most competitions won't allow them.

 

[rich pierce]

If you put one on, keep in mind most competitions won't allow them.

I always make a dovetailed plug for the dovetail when putting a rear sight on a smooth bore. The rear sight can be tapped out and the plug slid in. I engrave a tiny witness mark on the sight and barrel so the rear sight can be re-installed when needed again.

 

[Rob M.]

I’ve never seen a rear sight on an original French trade gun. Northwest guns and Carolina guns, yes. There might be some out there.

Funny ...I haven't seen a rear sight on a Frenchy either but I've onlyvseen them in books , not in person . My favorite Fusil de Chasse whi h was in a museum in Canada was bought by the Museum of the Fur Trade . I was excited to see it in person . As soon as you go in the door to the right its in the case at the end . I was darn near drooling on the glass and ....it had a rear sight on it . I'd never seen it in the pictures , it was behind d the cock / hammer . Was very cool . When looking at the collections trade guns it was amazing to see how many had had rear sights added to them , darn near 50% of them . I was quite surprised .....

 

[Rob M.]

My N.W. trade gun ...

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I have seen rear sights on high end fusil fins. I'll go see if I can find an example

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Here you go. Some of these were just around the barrel Nd some were around the stock. I have seen this sort of thing on English guns as well as all across the European continent.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

These are mainly for wing shooting. You can slide this thing right of the gun, it's a friction fit.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Here you go. Some of these were just around the barrel Nd some were around the stock. I have seen this sort of thing on English guns as well as all across the European continent.

Clever!