Practical improvement or unpardonable faux paux

[mike ford]

Just my own opinion- I usually just bought the tallest "partridge" type front sight available, and filed it to height. That way I didn't have to worry about a "bead". BTW, when fitting these sights, I find it more convenient to just file the bottom( file flat), you can get into a real "rat killing" if you try to fit it from the sides of the dovetail.
Mike

[Mauser9x57]

Hi,
When a Lyman #35 bolt stop sight is installed wood has to be removed below the bolt stop. So the rifle once again is permanently damaged. The Lyman cocking piece sight is not that hard to find and is less expensive. Also I have used an old Winchester .22 sight as a cocking piece sight. I can't remember the model of the .22 but it was an old semi auto if I remember correctly. The sight mounted to the flat rear of the action which protruded above the stock. It uses a dovetail and is drifted to achieve proper windage but the aperture slides up and down on the staff for elevation.. Pick up another cocking piece at a gun show. I use a long cocking piece with a short ended firing pin normally used on the short cocking piece. This left room for the dovetail slot without needing to grind off the back of the firing pin.
A friend of mine built some beautiful little cocking piece sights a few years ago. He copied them from a sight used on Holland and Holland mausers. I think he was only charging $250 or so. I traded another sight for mine. The Rigby cocking piece sights are great too and someone was remaking them a while back. I think NECG was selling them. The Parker Hales are a very neat little sight, but I have heard they fall apart if used much. I haven't used mine much and it is still perfect, so I don't know that as a fact.
Hoffman here in the states made an aperture sight that replaced the bolt sleeve. They are surprisingly heavy but are right at home on a hard kicker. They have their own two position safety that pivots on a horizontal axis. The slide and adjustment knobs look a lot like a Redfield. Hard to find and very expensive usually. North of $700 or so.
Hope this helps you make up your mind. I just hate to see beautiful old rifles damaged. I decided a long time ago a cocking piece sight, or the Hoffman sight is the way to go. No permanent damage and they work well enough. The Europeans made those Bailey Groman aperture sights that did not replace the open sights. The idea was squinting through that little hole helped clear up the sight picture and it does work. You can put an aperture on your glasses like target shooters, but not the best deal for hunting. Sorry I ran on so.
Dave





haven't used mine much and it is perfect still so I'm not sure that is true.

[mike ford]

After Mauser9x57's statement that installation of a Lyman #35 requires removal; I examined my own, which was waiting "in line" to be "blooded", and he is correct. This seems to remove one of the options. If there is general agreement, however, that the current rear sight is not original, the most cost effective solution seems to be filing it.
Mike