Volley sights?

[skiprat]

Should be the same screw in both P14 and Smle, the screw should "bottom out" tight to the spigot of mounting plate and the spring should put the friction onto the arm.

[harry mac]

Assembled this on to my P14 today. I can see why they did away with them. It appears that as you work the arm back and forth the screw will loosen and, I suspect in combat, eventually fall out.

I don't have that issue on mine, and it's been there 103 years.

[Doug2500]

I must have something assembled wrong then. Will take another look at it.

[browningautorifle]

I can see why they did away with them

They did away with them to ease production and because they weren't used any more.

[Paul S.]

They did away with them to ease production and because they weren't used any more.

Exactly. The Great War battlefield from after the Battle of the Marne (Sept. 1914) and onwards changed from open land to deeply entrenched, static warfare in which frontline trenches were often less than 100 m and rarely greater than 400 to 500 m apart. That negated the need or use of volley sights. Since they were no longer needed that meant the time, labour, and material needed to produce them could be employed elsewhere.


Things make sense and are more understandable once one knows its practical and historical context. That Gents, is why reading history is so important.

[Doug2500]

Still having trouble with this. Is the nut with the two holes supposed to rotate with the arm? Mine does, so if I rotate the arm too far forward it loosens the nut. Is the spring supposed to be installed curved toward the stock or away from it? Either way doesn't correct the above issue. The only thing I can think of is the spring is putting too much tension on the arm, but I don't want to mess with trying to flatten out the spring. Any suggestions?

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Doug, the screw should not rotate with the arm. I wonder if your problem is the plate itself. When the sight arms were removed from rifles in service, many times the threaded boss was ground down or just worn down from normal use. This would allow the screw to be turned in further than designed and not leave enough clearance for the arm to move as intended.

[Doug2500]

Makes sense. I have two plates and two screws and I tried both and both have the same issue. Might just have to live with it like it is. Gonna try some grease behind the arm and between the arm and the screw to see if it helps. Thanks for the input.

[PeterOM]

Hi folks, I have a 1889 Lee Metford Mk 1* DP rifle in mostly original shape (appears to be a Metford barrel) and would like to replace the missing dial sight bead (have a lead on a sporterized Long Lee with a dial sight). How was the bead attached to the dial sight pointer arm? Any help would be much appreciated- Peter

[Roy]

I believe the bead is riveted into place.