Replacing open rear sight

[glee37]

I have a 36 cal. T/C muzzelloader with no rear sight. I would like to replace it but have not been able to determine what the original sight looked like. T/C has been no help at all. The gun is Hawken style with serial number 14308 but has the general characteristics of a Seneca. It does not have the model type on the barrel. The barrel is 27 and 7/8 in. long including the breech, has a 3/4 in. octagon barrel flat to flat, and has two or three sight mount screws 2 and 1/2 in. apart with a center screw 1/4 in. back from the front screw. Have been unable to find a rear sight that fits without doing some gunsmith work that I don't want to do. Any information on the original sight would be appreciated.

 

[50cal.cliff]

Do a Google search for TC, Hawken style rifle. There are several that pop-up on some of the gun auctions.
The forum will not allow links to such sites but, the auction usually have multiple pictures that you can use to reference the proper rear sight.

I don't own any TC's or I might be able to help you out!

There are several TC guru's on here that may be able to tell you outright the proper sight for your rifle!

 

[tenngun]

You can also cut a dove tail and fit your own. I did that to a senaca rifle I owned.

 

[Billnpatti]

I used to have one off a T/C Hawken. I think it is the same one that you are looking for. I took it off and replaced it with a peep sight. if I can find it, I'll get back to you.

 

[don hepler]

The TC Seneca, had the brass patchbox,trigger guard, etc. similar to the Hawken(except smaller) and the Cherokee, was similar size(to the Seneca), without the brass, more like comparing a TC Hawken to a Renegade. The Seneca and Cherokee, and possibly the Patriot all have the same back sight. I would imagine it will be difficult to find one. I broke the main spring guide rod on my Seneca, and can not find one. Fortunately my brother and I were both machinist and he owns a shop. I gave it to him to make me one.

With that small barrel, it must be a Seneca or Cherokee, and Hawken and Renegade sights will be to big to fit.

 

[glee37]

The Seneca and Cherokee sights don't fit either. The closest fit in appearance is the Scout but I don't know the screw spacing on the Scout.

 

[necchi]

The Seneca and Cherokee sights don't fit either.

:hmm: Now that's an odd thing.
Are you sure it's a TC?

 

[glee37]

I was trying to avoid additional gunsmith work but I may have to drill and tap another hole to fit the standard Seneca sight.

 

[glee37]

It has T/C on the barrel but I think it may be a rather vintage T/C gun considering the serial number.

 

[necchi]

Here's a thought,
In some cases all of the factory drilled holes are not used to mount a sight, I have had TC Hawkens that have passed through my hands with only 1 screw holding the sight in place, firmly I might add.

And considering it is an older rifle, perhaps 1 of who knows how many previous owners have already drilled extra holes in it to mount a different sight.

If the sight you get/find for your needs only uses or fit's one hole, as long as it fit's the flats properly one screw may well be enough, :wink:

 

[mooman76]

The Seneca and Cherokee sights don't fit either. The closest fit in appearance is the Scout but I don't know the screw spacing on the Scout.

A Scout you say? I have a scout and it's attached by a dovetail. There are screw holes taped for a scope though.

 

[mooman76]

Did you try cainsoutdoor, dixiegunworks or trackofthewolf ? They have pictures of sights sometimes measurements. cainsoutdoor also has a sight mount that bolts onto original holes so you can use a dovetail sight.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Moonman's right. Both Dixie And TOTW have rear sights listed by base width & length. Measure your dovetail and order whatever style turns your crank!

 

[Leatherbark]

One screw will do for now. FWIW Green Mountain interchangeable barrels although have two screw holes only use one screw to attach their rear sights. Their barrels have 2 screw holes but the rear sight they use only has 1 hole.

One (1) hole will work if the sight you use overlaps the flats of the barrel to keep it stable. Since a Hawken rear sight is for a 15/16ths or 1 inch barrel the sides of that rear sight might not fit over the flats of your smaller barrel. You might use epoxy and the lone screw with a Hawken sight.

Hope everything works out well.

Bob

Bob

 

[glee37]

Have not tried Cainsoutdoor but have tried the other two. Thanks.

 

[glee37]

Didn't know how the Scout was attached. My gun also is tapped for a scope but my thinking was to possibly use an open ring scope mount along with the open rear sight as an alternative.

 

[glee37]

That may be a last resort. Thanks

 

[don hepler]

If I remember correctly, the Seneca barrel is 13/16, not 3/4 as you mentioned. Some of the early Hawken sights will not fit later Hawkens. This may be the case with the Seneca. Did you use calipers to check the barrel? It might be .812, instead of .750 .

 

[glee37]

A more accurate measurement did confirm your numbers. My yardstick probably wasn't that precise. Your suggestion that the earlier Hawkens used a different sight than the newer ones probably applies to the Seneca also as that is a good explanation for the reason that I have been unable to match the Seneca sights with the mounting screws on my gun. Thanks.

 

[Otter]

I have handled and seen many TCs, but have never owned one long enough to really check out the sights (and that was a .54 Hawken I bought for our son).

Might this one fit? http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/882/1/RS-TC-15-OS-V

If all else fails, give the folks at TOTW a call - they might be able to at least point you in the right direction (since the TC folks have been so "helpful").