The end is in sight! (pun intended)

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tnlonghunter

40 Cal.
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
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I'm so close I can hardly stand it. The last thing I have left on my rifle is to actually put the front sight blade (get it end...sight :rotf: ) on the brass base. I know it's supposed to be soldered on. Could some one please detail the exact steps to make this happen? Thanks!
 
Mark the baseplate with a good line. Then put a line of solder on the baseplate. Put a line of solder on the bottom edge of the sight blade, then put the two together while you heat them up. Did you make a tab on the sight to fit a slot in the baseplate? This is often done to help both locate the blade exactly, and to aid in keeping it firmly soldered to the baseplate. Files, a drill and some elbow grease will get that extra work done.
 
When scratch making a front sight, I make a rectangular cutout in and through the base. I make the blade with a rectangular peg that fits in the slot in the base, sort of a mortise and tenon arrangement. I make the peg part too long so it sticks out the bottom of the base. Then I flip it over and firmly clamp the blade in the vise so the base is now on top. I peen down the peg till it has locked the blade into the base SQUARE. Then I flip it over, put it on a tile or fire brick (not regular brick!) and solder the two parts together. Later I flatten the base and clean up the angles for fitting to the dovetail. This may be overkill but it is sturdy and reliable.

This is just like Paul said. Timing is everything.
 
Rich Pierce has it right, to just solder the edge of the blade to the flat of the base would not be nearly sturdy enough, you need a mechanical interlock of the parts as well.
 
Gotcha. I have Shumway's "Recreating the American Longrifle" but for some reason the directions for making a front sight didn't make a lot of sense. I now understand how he meant to have the front sight-blade peened into the base. Thanks!
 
When I turn over the base I also file a slight draft (angle, relief) in the rectangular slot. This way when I peen the excess post on the blade it fills up this draft and completely locks the blade to the base.
If you do it this way there is no need to use solder. It will break off before it comes out.
 

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