Does anyone know how Springfield attached the front sight on these rifles? It's a dovetail but for military use it probably needed solder of some type. Did they use soft solder or silver solder? Thanks
The sight base is forged as part of the barrel. The blade is held in by a cross pin. You would never want to solder in a front sight; too hard to replace in the field.
Posts: 17294 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
And I say there was a slight flat milled into the top of the barrel and the ramp was brazed on ! The blade was pinned into the ramp with a single pin.
When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years! Rod Henrickson
Posts: 2542 | Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada | Registered: 05 June 2005
Well, providing its original, as said, the blade is pinned in and the base is brazed on. I suppose if the Op wanted to, he could soft solder the blade in with rosin core electrical solder. That stuff seems to melt when you rub it to hard. I can't see it breaking down the brazing at all. As long as one didn't get to ambitious with the torch.
When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years! Rod Henrickson
Posts: 2542 | Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada | Registered: 05 June 2005
Thanks for the replys. I was asking about the sight base. I'll try to be more specific in the future. I'm replacing the barrel on an 1898 Carbine and the replacement barrel has the long shallow dovetail which cannot be depended on to retain the base without some help. I will use soft solder and see how that holds up.
Originally posted by Dan Stone: Thanks for the replys. I was asking about the sight base. I'll try to be more specific in the future. I'm replacing the barrel on an 1898 Carbine and the replacement barrel has the long shallow dovetail which cannot be depended on to retain the base without some help. I will use soft solder and see how that holds up.
When I got a Krag I drifted out the old sight and put an old Lyman banded ramp sight on it that covers the dovetail.
Posts: 5604 | Location: Eastern plains of Colorado | Registered: 31 October 2005
