Round barrel Kentucky style pistol q’s

[Philip Chua]

Howdy all!

Just purchased a Jukar .45 cal Kentucky style pistol from a fellow forum member. This appears to be an unfinished kit gun - percussion with a round instead of octagon barrel. It has no sights on the barrel. Most of the sights that would look right require me to cut a dovetail which I am game to try - particularly on an entry level - entry level pistol. There are some solder on sights but that’s going to be a pain if it’s not shooting on as there really isn’t any adjustability with those.
The question is: should I just order some basic low profile 3/8 dovetail sights and have at? That certainly is my inclination. Already read a few posts about it and a few folks aren’t crazy about dovetail sights on round barrels. Not too concerned about locating top and center - looks like enough reference points on it to find it.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Can you post a picture of the pistol? That may help some.

Also, is it rifled or a smooth bore? There were some old-time smoothbored pistols made without sights, or with a front sight only, as shooting one of those was considered a close-range proposition.

It’s your pistol and it sounds as if you know what you want to do. However, since you asked, if it were mine I would probably want to solder on a fusil-type front sight, or possibly install a shotgun bead.

Good luck with your project!

Notchy Bob

 

[Philip Chua]

Can you post a picture of the pistol? That may help some.

Also, is it rifled or a smooth bore? There were some old-time smoothbored pistols made without sights, or with a front sight only, as shooting one of those was considered a close-range proposition.

It’s your pistol and it sounds as if you know what you want to do. However, since you asked, if it were mine I would probably want to solder on a fusil-type front sight, or possibly install a shotgun bead.

Good luck with your project!

Notchy Bob

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/jukar-spain-45-cal-pistol-155.178197/

Pics in that post. Says its rifled. Ooh is see a pic of said front sight. That could work and would be easy enough to resolder if it needed tweaked. Thanks!!

 

[Phil Coffins]

Or don’t solder it at first, glue it on then shoot to see if it’s right. Make any adjustments to its location then solder it on.

 

[2 shots]

also make sure you have the wall thickness for a dovetail. keep it shallow just to be safe.