Dovetail a Marlin 1889 front sight?

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:24 pm

At sometime in it's life, my .38-40 1889 had it's front sight filed down to a nub. It's been reblued and the stocks refinished so it has zero value other than as a shooter.

I've thought about building up the front sight but my brazing skills aren't up to snuff for this IMO.

What possible issues could I run into if I were to have it dovetailed and a new front sight installed?

Thanks!

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:34 pm

It is dovetailed,
If you look closely at the top picture you can make out the bottom horizontal line of the sight base. They drove it in, soft soldered it & dressed it down flush with the barrel.

Is that an 1889 barrel? I thought that was a second variation, the first being very similar except it had slot with a blade pinned to it instead of being one piece. I have an 1889 with a 1894 barrel on it with the same sight you have. I'v got anothr 25/20 barrel like it to go on my 1894 project. I THINK the early 1894's had the pined sight & if thats right I'd think none of the 89's had this one. How many patent dates are on the barel? there should only be 2. 1887 & 1889 I think. If its a 94 barrel it'll have a 1893 date as well.

On my 1889 with a 1894 barrel I had my smith mill the shoulders square & dress the top a little, still not the best front sight but its functional.

I imagine you MIGHT be able to heat the sight & drift it out but I have never tried.

What I'd suggest & may do on the next one, is to file it flat, cut a slot & pin in a blade. Theyre VERY short anyway & a blade might make it more user friendly.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:34 pm

Can't add to that

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:12 pm

That was exactly what I was going to suggest. I think Ken's got it exactly right.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:00 am

A-HA!!

I asked on the old board sometime back but thought the dovetail was being pointed out about halfway up the square base. NOW I see what is being pointed out!

I guess I should have gone to a larger monitor and glasses a while back...

I have no idea if this is the original barrel or what if any variations there were.

After the original thread (which is now long gone) I ordered an 1889 front sight from Numrich. Of course it was a dovetail and I figured I'd gotten the wrong one. Now I'll compare it closer and see if it can be used. It appears to be a short (height wise) blade so I'm not sure it'll be of any benefit. This rifle shoots ~6-8" high at 25 yds as is with CAS loads.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:07 am

There is another fix that is pretty simple, and wont need to remove the old sight's base. Simply take it to a machine shop and have them mill the remains of that blade off flush. Then have them cut a thin slot lengthwise(perpendicular with the barrel) and make up a blade from a correct thickness piece of silver or aluminum. Then siply pin it into the base, and take it to the range. Fire it and file it down until it hits point of aim.-Vall