Freeland Rear Tube Sight

[NMC_EXP]

Am considering biding on a smallbore that is equipped with a Freeland rear tube sight. The sight is about 6" long and 3/4" diameter. It is mounted in what appear to be Unertl rings/bases.

Anyone ever use one of these? Have some questions:

1. What does it use for a rear aperture? Was it set up for a Merit adjustable iris?

2. Compared to say a Redfield International rear sight, what are the advantages/disadvantages?

3. To a collector, any idea what the going rate for the sight might be?

Thanks and best regards.

Jim

[n64atlas]

USMC69 on the rimfire central forum, knows about these. He has a collection that includes the Freeland.
Post on the Winchester section.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/

[Kirk]

At one time I shot a Remington 40X equipped with Freeland tube sights. They were popular in the 50s & 60s. If the sight is in good shape, they worked very well, equivalent to some of the Redfield sights. From my notes, I found the following:

Remington 40 XB (1962 vintage) had a heavy barrel, is stamped “US/.22 long rifle” above the s/n. The Al Freeland tube rear sight is 1" dia. and came with 1 aperture; it has standard Redfield/Lyman threads so it is easily interchangeable. The sight comes with Unertl standard bases. The sight & bases are in VG condition.

The matching Al Freeland tube front sight is also 1" dia. & comes with 1 aperture. It is in VG condition.

I attached some pictures s you can see what it looks like.

Bear in mind that the tubes on my rifle were 1" dia. Are you sure the one you are looking at is .75"? A Merit aperture should fit. I never tried one but the threads should be the same.

Good luck!

IMG_0058..jpgIMG_0052..JPGIMG_0066..jpgIMG_0062..JPGIMG_0055..jpg

[NMC_EXP]

n64atlas

Got a dialogue going over there. USMC69 uses a Unertl tube sight but has put me in touch with other posters who use the Freeland.

Thanks

Jim

[NMC_EXP]

Kirk

Thanks for the reply and photos.

I've only seen photos of the rifle with Freeland sights and guessed it was a 3/4" tube. It looks just like yours.

The front in your photos looks like a Freeland. I've learned that the front came as a two piece set - a 50 yd and 100 yd version with the elevation change built into the sight.

Best regards

Jim