Rear sight ID

[cheesewiththatwhine]

Hi - just got acquired my first trapdoor and familiarizing myself with it's intricate features. On several websites I've seen rear sight configurations but not the one on mine. Is this a bubba'd sight or a variation I just havn't seen? How does it function? Thanks in advance.

http://i51.tinypic.com/2rh1pjp.jpg
cheese

[Tom Trevor]

Yes Bubba done been here. You have a Buffington base with a staff belonging to a 1903 Springfield and that is not assembled correctly. Search Buffington sight and then 1903 Springfield sight and you will see where the parts came from.

[cheesewiththatwhine]

Thanks..that's what I thought with it not being very stable to use. The serial number (155xxx as I recall) puts it at 1881 birthdate. What would be the correct rear sight if I may trouble you for your learned tone..I'll start searching for a correct sight.

cheese

[Tom Trevor]

You would want the M-1879 sight. Go to www.trapdoorcollectop.com and look at the rifles for sale in the classified section from 1897-1884 and you will see pictures of what you need also the screws will be needed. E-mail Al frasca there and he will be most likely to be able to help you. They also show up on auction sites. 1881 would be correct year for the serial number.

[Fred]

However, looking at the rear barrel band, I can see that it is grooved on the top for the Buffington rifle sight and so this rifle no doubt had the update from the 1879 to the 1884 Buffington which would be the correct one to get.

[Tom Trevor]

I believe the rifles owner asked what the sight he has on the rifle was and found out. When that POS was put on the rifle is anyones guess he then asked as I saw it "WHAT SIGHT DID THE RIFLE HAVE ON IT WHEN PRODUCED IN 1881". He now knows that also.

[cheesewiththatwhine]

Thanks so much for both your help. I knew I'd come to the right place.

That milled out area had me and a friend stumped as to it's reason. Now I know. So the Buffington base I have only needs a ladder to be correct.(?) I found several sources for the 1879 sight..I'll also look for the ladder for this base. Were there any other revisions to make this an 1884 update?

TIA
cheese

[Tom Trevor]

They may have also installed the later swept back trigger in place of the smooth curved one used up until early 1883.

[cheesewiththatwhine]

Yep, it's swept back, grooved/cross cut and appears to have a multi angle face..I was very impressed with how much work went into just a trigger on a issue rifle. Hardly see that much effort in anything made today.

Thanks. Is there a preference by actual people shooting these things over the Buffington sight vs the 1879 sight?

cheese

[JimF]

Yep, it's swept back, grooved/cross cut and appears to have a multi angle face..I was very impressed with how much work went into just a trigger on a issue rifle. Hardly see that much effort in anything made today.

Thanks. Is there a preference by actual people shooting these things over the Buffington sight vs the 1879 sight?

cheese

Yeah . . . I like the Buffington over the M79.
The M79 was the first sight available to the GI that was capable of windage adjustments . . . . but they were EXTREMELY coarse adjustments . . . and, when the slide was all the way down, a centering pin stopped even that capability.!
The Buffington was the best of the trapdoor series of sights . . . . much like the bubba sight you have pictured. --Jim

[sdkrag]

If you plan on any amount of shooting the Buffington is by far a better target sight.