Marlin 1889 front sight idea
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Marlin 1889 front sight idea
My 1889 carbine needs a new front sight since a previous owner filed it down to a nub. I ordered a replacement from Numrich a while back but they sent one for a rifle I guess since it doesn't have that "block" on the base and it sits too low to clear the barrel band.
Current sight:
What I'd like to do after seeing this on kimwcook's Sharps:
I'm wondering if this would be feasible or if it would look goofy due to the height of my front sight and that base it sits on. Would the length of the penny (or dime, etc) look odd hanging off the front and back and just sitting up there rather than sitting close to the barrel like in the above pic?
Current sight:
What I'd like to do after seeing this on kimwcook's Sharps:
I'm wondering if this would be feasible or if it would look goofy due to the height of my front sight and that base it sits on. Would the length of the penny (or dime, etc) look odd hanging off the front and back and just sitting up there rather than sitting close to the barrel like in the above pic?
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
- J Miller
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Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
Probably the easiest way to put a taller front sight on that carbine would be to file or mill the top of the square base flat. Then mill a slot in it and fit a new blade. Drill a hole through the base and the new blade for a retaining pin and viola, you're done.
What's normally used for a blade is a steel insert, but it's really up to you.
Joe
What's normally used for a blade is a steel insert, but it's really up to you.
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
Sure, I could do it that way...but that's the EASY way!
Actually, I was think of a Mercury head dime or somesuch just for the neato-keen factor.
No mill, etc but I can file it flat and use a small file or very carefully Dremel the slot.
Actually, I was think of a Mercury head dime or somesuch just for the neato-keen factor.
No mill, etc but I can file it flat and use a small file or very carefully Dremel the slot.
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
- AJMD429
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Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
You do have to use an 1889 penny, not an 1899, for it to work, though...
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Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
If you get tired of playing around with the small change , I've got a proper block front sight w/pinned blade that you can have.
I won't even "nickel & dime" you - it's yours for the bubble.
.
I won't even "nickel & dime" you - it's yours for the bubble.
.
Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
J Miller wrote:Probably the easiest way to put a taller front sight on that carbine would be to file or mill the top of the square base flat. Then mill a slot in it and fit a new blade. Drill a hole through the base and the new blade for a retaining pin and viola, you're done.
What's normally used for a blade is a steel insert, but it's really up to you.
Joe
Be pretty correct that way too. They did them that way at the factory either before or after the one you have. I think yours is the second generation.
I had my smith square up the shoulders on mine with an end mill so its a post now.
If you want to use a coin just cut the slot to the bottom of the sight so its flush with the barrel for & aft. just me but I'd want a vertical face on the side facing me.
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
I see it's o-pun season again...Pete44ru wrote:If you get tired of playing around with the small change , I've got a proper block front sight w/pinned blade that you can have.
I won't even "nickel & dime" you - it's yours for the bubble.
PM inbound!
1894 production IIRC if that helps.Leverdude wrote: They did them that way at the factory either before or after the one you have. I think yours is the second generation.
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
Yeah, yours is the later one.
I have a gun at me smith now with the same setup. The barels been sleeved & its a parts gun I put together. I want him to try & get the sight out. If you look close you can see its dovetailed in & dressed to look like it grew there. Its soldered but he thinks he can get it out. If he cant I'll have him cut it off just behind it & cut a dovetail for another sight.
I sure wouldn't recomend that if your guns original though.
I have a gun at me smith now with the same setup. The barels been sleeved & its a parts gun I put together. I want him to try & get the sight out. If you look close you can see its dovetailed in & dressed to look like it grew there. Its soldered but he thinks he can get it out. If he cant I'll have him cut it off just behind it & cut a dovetail for another sight.
I sure wouldn't recomend that if your guns original though.
- marlinman93
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Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
Yes those carbine sights were soldered and dovetailed into the barrel. If it was mine I'd set up a jig to hold the dremel tool that would allow it to travel back and forth to recut a slot in the original sight. Also be sure to put a lot of layers of tape on the adjoining barrel surfaces to protect them. Then when you're done put a new blade in it and secure it with clear epoxy. After that you can head to the range with a file and shoot it to see how much to file down.
I wouldn't use a coin as it might look odd, but also because when you file it down to hit at point of aim it will not be full round on the edge.
I wouldn't use a coin as it might look odd, but also because when you file it down to hit at point of aim it will not be full round on the edge.
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
I've had the sight out of the dovetail, that's how I figured out the replacement was too low...marlinman93 wrote:Yes those carbine sights were soldered and dovetailed into the barrel. If it was mine I'd set up a jig to hold the dremel tool that would allow it to travel back and forth to recut a slot in the original sight. Also be sure to put a lot of layers of tape on the adjoining barrel surfaces to protect them. Then when you're done put a new blade in it and secure it with clear epoxy. After that you can head to the range with a file and shoot it to see how much to file down.
I wouldn't use a coin as it might look odd, but also because when you file it down to hit at point of aim it will not be full round on the edge.
My plan was/is to use the Brownell's sight calculator as a starting point and use a piece of poster board or somesuch that's just a little taller than the calculator calls for glued to the sight block. Once at the range I can cut the temporary sight until I get the sight in I want and once home, cut the coin and file the flat bottom side until I get the height I need so it stays round on top.
Of course if Pete has what I need, I just spent all that time working this idea up when I could have been thinking of something more useful (to my wife at least! )!
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 5670
- Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:13 pm
- Location: DeeDee Snavely's Used Guns and Weapons
Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
It's been reblued and the wood refinished at some point but I still don't think I could cut it...Leverdude wrote:Yeah, yours is the later one.
I have a gun at me smith now with the same setup. The barels been sleeved & its a parts gun I put together. I want him to try & get the sight out. If you look close you can see its dovetailed in & dressed to look like it grew there. Its soldered but he thinks he can get it out. If he cant I'll have him cut it off just behind it & cut a dovetail for another sight.
I sure wouldn't recomend that if your guns original though.
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
-Mark Twain
Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13
Got to have a Jones for this
Jones for that
This running with the Joneses boy
Just ain't where it's at
Re: Marlin 1889 front sight idea
[it's yours for the bubble.]
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