Identify tangent backsight?

[Peter Laidler]

This tangent backsight, the complexity of which defies belief, was found in a dusty old cupboard at the Small Arms School at Warminster.

I wonder if anyone can identify its origins?

The pics show the thing pretty well as it is but any further questions just ask!

Information

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[us019255]

Looks very similar to the sight from a 1903 Springfield. Some US Krags, and trapdoor Springfields also had similar sights.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert just noticed similarities.

[Badger]

Looks a bit like a Krag rifle sight off a Krag Carbine (click here) ?

(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Does it have a small "c" on the side as shown in the pic above?

Regards,
Badger

[Peter Laidler]

Hey, you blokes out there are just amazing............ I don't know about the little C on the side but I'll come back to you early next week

[Badger]

Hey, you blokes out there are just amazing............ I don't know about the little C on the side but I'll come back to you early next week

If it is a Krag Carbine sight and it has the little "c" as shown, although I'm not a Krag collector, I believe it might be valuable.

So, if that turns out to be the case, post your find in the Krag Rifles Forum to see what it's worth.

Regards,
Badger

[musketshooter]

It is a 1901 Krag sight. If it is not marked with a C, it is a standard rifle sight.

[Peter Laidler]

No such luck with the letter 'C'. The side just shows 1,2,3,4B so is a bog standard Krag sight. But so complicated! Thanks very much for your help.

[Mk VII]

This fragile and overly-elaborate sight with an aperture that was placed much too far from the eye for optical correctness was one of several types of rear sight fitted to the Krag design in rapid succession, reflecting arguments within the using arms about what characteristics such a sight should have.
The Springfield design also underwent some of these changes before settling down with a sight of this type.

[jmoore]

This fragile and overly-elaborate sight with an aperture that was placed much too far from the eye for optical correctness was one of several types of rear sight fitted to the Krag design in rapid succession, reflecting arguments within the using arms about what characteristics such a sight should have.
The Springfield design also underwent some of these changes before settling down with a sight of this type.

Sight developed by bulls-eye shooters in the US Army, starting w/ the later 45-70s called the Buffington sight. See link for photos of "Gen I":

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/TrapdoorSights.html

As noted by Mk VII, this type sight has a host of flaws for battlefield use. They ALMOST dumped it w/ the 30-'03 model, but like the Krag, the range shooters had the last say.

Hateful things, esp. if you're not 18 any more! Was using one a few weeks ago (mostly because I forgot the Warner-Swayze scope...), and it works, but it's slow, and obscures half the down range view. Yuck.

At least the battle sight is just an open notch and is good on Krags at moderate ranges- the 30-06 '03 Springfield version has no elevation adjustment when it's in the down position.

Thank goodness for John Garand and his super "head positioner".

BTW, us019255 did the Reader's Digest version straight away, the rest is just elaboration!