TC Hawken sight install

[iflytheriver]

I have a TC Hawken I really like other than the looks of the sights. I wish they were more old fashion. The front sight looks easy to replace. The rear sight will need the dove tail slot cut in the barrel. Larry Potterfield makes it look pretty easy on the Midway USA commercials. Do any of you have any advice on whether I should tackle this or is a gunsmith needed? Thank you in advance for help.
PS- If there is a detailed thread on this subject in the archives, I couldn't find it!

 

[Robert58]

Before you put a dove tail in your barrel read this post.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...d/240510/post/785999/hl//fromsearch/1/#785999

Robert

 

[iflytheriver]

Thank you Robert! Yours looks like a better solution. Exactly what I was hoping for. Again, many thanks.

 

[ebiggs1]

Measure first.

Mark your barrel.

Use a hack saw with a fine tooth blade.

Here is after sawing several very small kerfs as close together as you can.

Use a three corne file to make your dovetails.

Check often. Mount your sight.

Go easy and you can do the same job the gunsmith will charge you $30 to $35 bucks for.

Remember this is pretty fine work so go slow. You can always remove more material but its harder to put it back!

 

[ohio ramrod]

Rather than trying to cut a dovetail with a hacksaw and a file you might consider adding a plate with the dove tail already cut in. This will enable you to move the sight further out the barrel for older eyes, or move it back if you so prefer.Here is a samp[le of a plate made to fit a 15/16 barrel using the existing factory mount screw holes.I'll try another post to show the plate with the sight mounted. I can only get one phot to show at a time. ( if any )

 

[ohio ramrod]

Alright I finally got the second picture instead of pop up adds on photobucket.

 

[Little Wattsy]

I found a guy that would dovetail it for $15.00 (I want to learn how BUT went that way to start) ANYWAY I added the traditonal dovedtailed sight to my T/C round ball barrel and LOVE IT!!!

 

[iflytheriver]

Thanks for all the ideas guys. To me, part of the attraction of black powder is the do it yourself attitude. I don't want to wreck a good barrel but I am going to attempt my own sight swap. Haven't decided whether to go with the dovetail or the screw down type. I did look on the parts house links posted here and found alot of choices. Thank you.