I am working on details for my next to fund project. The action is old pre war FN and I want to preserve the bannner. Additionally I don't want it buried under a scope mount. I am not certain whether a scope is a requireemnt at this point, iron sights are first priority.

Does anybody know of a bolt shroad rear peep sight? Ala old Jefferies etc? Another thought was a rear peep that would straddle the rear of the reciever? Lyman and Williams peep are out not interested. I have also seen the ERA ( NECG) which mounts on the rear Weaver base.

Any other rear peep options? If I can't figure out a something suitable the solders on parade and a integral rib is a option, but I like rear peeps better. Any options that aren't butt ugly.

This is still on the drawing board and I am looking for options. I plan on kicking this off in the next couple of months, but even my barrel choice is wrapped up around this detail, cause if I am going to use a barrel mounted sight, I will accomidate it in my plans.

I have run the usual sorces and I am not coming up with much.

Look at the Westley Richards site or contact them. Their old one had a pressure lever that fit over the bolt release and had a pin that then anchored to the stock. It leaves no mark and can be removed easily. The peep diaphram is not as fine as the Williams or the Redfield but it works beautifully.

Frank

Looking now, something tells me I am in for sticker shock, I am still catching my breath from what a G&H side mount cost.

I am looking at the W&R site, no gun parts listed. What I don't see though as its't even listed as a option on a rifle, which doesn't look good.

Are you sure they are still making it?

Edit, boy for such a high dollar rifle the website is sure a little lacking. Not even pictures of their rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by schromf:

Any other rear peep options? .

Dunno about yours, but I bought a commercial FN about 1961, and it came with its own little peep which turned a bit for different ranges. It was on the action by memory, but it's all a haze now.

No mine is definately very much like a mauser, if it had a thumb cut I would wonder if it was a commercial version of a mititary action.

Safety is different than most newer FN's also it's not a shotgun style.

This is in another language but they make true replicas of the original Rigby Diopter sight.

http://www.golmatic.de/Waffen_EN/buechsenmacherbedarf_e...nmacherbedarf_en.htm

Yep thats closer to what I was thinking. I can see getting a scope mounted with that.

I guess I will e-mail them and check out pricing, and see if I can get dimensional data.

Thanks thats definately a good lead.

I tried emailing for a cost on the sight and it was returned as undeliverable.

If anybody gets any info on this Rigby type sight, I would like to hear from them as to availability and cost.

Scrollcutter,

I will try again on the e-mail. I will let you know if I have any success. My gunsmith says someone in the US is making them also, but I haven't had much success running it to ground either.

After looking at this one, my thoughts are is pretty big and clunky, the origianl sights I have seen had a more delicate ( for lack of a better word ) look to them.

I think some beveling or champhering on this would improve the astetics quite a bit though.

quote:

Scrollcutter: If anybody gets any info on this Rigby type sight, I would like to hear from them as to availability and cost.

They are about $400, don't know how readily available. Another alternative is the old Lyman bolt peeps, shown here on a Springfield cocking piece. They occasionally show up on ebay.:



Then there are Lyman #35 bolt release sights, often seen on pre-war JP Sauer Mausers, about $250 if you can find one.

Thanks guys.

Forrest, I've got a 35 I am going to put on a 338-06 or 35 Whelen. I have the pattern that Ottmar built that has the stock molded around the sight (on loan to me).

I was actually considering the manufacture of the Rigby peep. If the demand is high enough, and I think it is.

This little sight was designed by Francis Sells and made by Husqvarna for decades. It's called the Jaktdiopter. The early ones had a solder-on base, later models installed with two screws. The aperature post is threaded for elevation and grooved and held firm with ball and spring.

They can still be found and I think for $125 or so. Poster SBHVA could tell you for sure. I bet you could find one at the Tulsa gun show this spring. I get them by buying rifles attached to them and somehow can't bring myself to separate the two. I think they are quite elegant and I see enough demand off and on that I'm seriously contemplating making up a run of 20 or so for the market. I think I could use the first 10 or so, LOL.



The picture is courtesy of Pettson's Place.

Probably the only way to get that Rigby style unit from Germany is to have someone over there kind enough to buy it for you locally and send or bring it over. I've tried for 2 years to get any response from them to no avail.

Here's the one soldered on my Model 46. In looking harder I think this was a screw-on that was trimmed to fit the bridge flats and then soldered instead of screwed. Elegant, no-snag hunting sight, IMO.



Roger, if someone were really ambitious I'd sure like see some reproductions of the flip-up tang peep Mauser sold. I think that's just the berries!

And then there's the Parker-Hale which can still be found from time to time.

quote:

tiggertate: This little sight was designed by Francis Sells and made by Husqvarna for decades. It's called the Jaktdiopter. The early ones had a solder-on base, later models installed with two screws....I'm seriously contemplating making up a run of 20 or so for the market....

Harry, I'll take one with 0.5" hole spacing for one of my FNs.

Forrest, I am going to get a quote from an EDM guy near Huntingcat for the base and slide. The aperature post is the only bitch to make and Ashley aperatures can be bought individualy and fuction much the same.

The question right now is whether to make a "gunsmith base" to be machined to fit or try to make a batch for '98s and some plain base for others.

The other really cool peep I know of is made by huntingcat and I wish he'd make a few for sale too. It is the same basic idea as the Jaktdiopter but the base fits in a standard CZ Safari barrel island dovetail. With a big diameter hole in the aperature it is every bit as fast and accurate as a rear bridge peep and you don't have to find the damn thing in a pocket and screw it on when you need it.

quote:

The question right now is whether to make a "gunsmith base" to be machined to fit or try to make a batch for '98s and some plain base for others.

I have a couple of thoughts here how about using a Recknagel base? Slick would be make it use a claw mount base so it snapped and locked in place, but a scope could be used with the smae base. Another thought is a saddle mount on the reciever, with a dovetail groove.

If you get serious about making these post and let us know, I think there would be a lot of interest if you do that base right.

I like that Parker Hale mount, much closer to what I was thinking about in the tang sight.

There are already sights that are designed as add-on to quick detach scoe bases. In fact, NEGC sells a matching Recknagel sight like the one you are thinking of.

These are going to be fixed and intended to be the primary sight for those who want a traditional looking peep. Ashleys function fine but I think they lack the proper look for a mauser rifle while the Rigby/Parker-Hale style cause concern for some in the accuracy dept and are much pricier.

This will give iron sight folks an option for those in-between working guns.

Tiggertate,

Seeing that HV sight has spurred my creative juices. How does this sound, I admit it would need some effort to pull off, but:

Rear scope mount with a 19mm dovetail, so a set of QD rings would work. maje the center cut and hollowed out so a forward pop up fits into the mount. A side screw on a concentric would give your your left to right adjustment, and I will roll in my head how to work out an elevation adjustment. I can see some trickey little details but if you were going to all the effort to EDM parts that would sure be a nice option, scope base and rear peer in the same package.

Hmmm, I need to brainstorm this thought a bit, it definately has possibilities ( and a lot of technical bitches thats why I need to ponder this thought).

quote:

There are already sights that are designed as add-on to quick detach scoe bases. In fact, NEGC sells a matching Recknagel sight like the one you are thinking of.

These are going to be fixed and intended to be the primary sight for those who want a traditional looking peep. Ashleys function fine but I think they lack the proper look for a mauser rifle while the Rigby/Parker-Hale style cause concern for some in the accuracy dept and are much pricier.

Concur needing to switch anything around is less than desireable. Best option is all in one deal.

I like that HV mount, and using a QD sidemount it would definately solve my issue. I am trying not to use a sidemount though, something on a 19mm dovetail, thats the ticket, question is how to get there.

The sight pictured above is the old Rigby sight. Tom Dulecchi, 509-946-7855 makes an equally well executed and beautiful cocking piece sight of the old Holland & Holland type.

Here is the sight I made:



Similar to either the Jaktdiopter, Ashley/XS sight, or other older designs. It solders on and is both windage & elevation adjustable.

You mite be able to find this if you do a search here,,some time last year same thing came up and Ray and a couple of others had a guy here in the states that was making them..

As far as a scope why not the G&H side mount as see on the pre-wars?

quote:

Originally posted by schromf:

Hmmm, I need to brainstorm this thought a bit, it definately has possibilities ( and a lot of technical bitches thats why I need to ponder this thought).

The conundrum is the same old thing: If you want to mount a scope on an older style rifle it has to sit high to clear the bolt handle; then you're craining your neck to get your eye up to it.

I just gave up trying to solve a problem hundreds of better qualified folks have not solved and accepted reciever mounts on all my guns so stocked.

I don't have any problem with Ashleys on a modern firearm or an older gun that is pure function; i just don't think they are quite right if you are trying to match the rifle's original grace.

I have the same problem with a lot of the over-the-counter claw mounts I see today. They just don't have the grace of line they did 60 years ago or more without substantial workover by someone with talent.

This little sight seems to fit my bill and I wouldn't bother nmaking any if they we're easier to find. And making 20 with EDM is probably a lot cheaper that making singles by hand. At any rate, if does go forward I'll post it.

quote:

Originally posted by schromf:
Tiggertate,

Seeing that HV sight has spurred my creative juices. How does this sound, I admit it would need some effort to pull off, but:

Rear scope mount with a 19mm dovetail, so a set of QD rings would work. maje the center cut and hollowed out so a forward pop up fits into the mount. A side screw on a concentric would give your your left to right adjustment, and I will roll in my head how to work out an elevation adjustment. I can see some trickey little details but if you were going to all the effort to EDM parts that would sure be a nice option, scope base and rear peer in the same package.

Hmmm, I need to brainstorm this thought a bit, it definately has possibilities ( and a lot of technical bitches thats why I need to ponder this thought).

Mike Scherz made a prototype of that idea and posted it here. Neat little rig; a spring-loaqded blade that popped up and was windage adjustable. I don't remember but it might have been RNS's rifle. Are you out there, Neal?

Harry,
that's not on Neal's 550. don't remember seeing a pic of it, either
jeffe

It wasn't the 550 but the pictures were posted about that time and I thought maybe it was another rifle of Neal's. At a minimum, he probably saw it while over at Mike's. Remember the custom base thread? It was in that one.

Schromf -

I'd probably recommend going with Triggertate's solution to your problem.

I have a take -off bolt-head peep taken from an original Mauser commercial sporter put up in England, but I wouldn't sell it to anyone. I don't consider them safe.

Most of the time they are just fine, but with a rifle of moderately heavy recoil and in a steep-angled uphill shot, they can result in the shooter buying a glass eye as a personal accessory. The same was true (and a more common experience) with the tang safeties once in vogue among hunters.

Triggertate's sight looks very fitting (pardon the pun) to me, and would pose no safety concerns.

When I get a chance to look into my vault, I will look at the make on a neat little peep I have.

It is built into the rear scope mount and hides behind the rear ring. When you pop the mount off the peep is ready to go. It is on an old Sedgley Springfeild. Anyone know what type I am talking about?

quote:

333 OKH: built into the rear scope mount and hides behind the rear ring. When you pop the mount off the peep is ready to go....Anyone know what type I am talking about?

Old-style Redfield base?

333 OKH-

There were several such scope-base peeps available in the old days of scope sights. They were fairly common because of the perceived "fragility" of the scopes then available. And, of course, pretty much all rifles came then with a front sight on the barrel, regardless what else was on the gun, so the scope base peeps could be put to good use.

Two of the more common were found on early Redfield, and Stith "Master" mounts. B&L also
made a peep which would pop into their bases. But there were many, many more. Would be interesting to hear which one you have.

I called Mike Scherz today, I had something else to talk to him about anyway. He is going to fix me up, done deal, now I just need to get down to his shop and talk.

Lawndart---

Who when where and how do I get one of those?

Shoot me an e-mail at johnnoak@cableone.net . I have the reference on that 'puter. Cool, huh?

LD

There's a fellow in TX named Gary Fellers who specializes in old iron sights of various descriptions, and he often advertises in Gun Week, RIFLE Mag, Shotgun News, etc. He may have a suggestion, and even a sight that would meet your requirements.

This from Lyman: "We do have a few sources for obsolete sights and parts. They are as follows:

Nick Stroebel Gunsights
PO Box 808, Mountainair, NM 87036

Gary Fellers
Marie Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76123
817-346-9633

Phillip Stewart
1007 Howard Street Mount Vernon, OH 43050
740-393-0704

Good luck!!

quote:

Tom Dulecchi, 509-946-7855

he made the sight lawndart posted.

I like peep sights, plan to build a lott on an FN and was thinking about putting a peep on it. What I plan to do is get a 39 dollar Williams from Brownells and make sure I like shooting it with a peep, before I make one or have one made.

The Dulecchi sight is very much like a Holland & Holland sight on my H&H 6.5 Norwegian Krag, the painters are in my apartment and I can't get at the rifle for a close comparison.