? about Artillery Rear Sight Base

sheepherder · 03-13-2014, 09:38 PM

Is the base of the artillery rear sight supposed to be perfectly flat (on bottom) or have a slight 'arch' to it???

This is the part which slides into the large dovetail in the barrel (not the leaf).

I am wondering if it is intended to have a slight spring action [the arch]?

It seems awfully fragile...and soft...

John Sabato · 03-14-2014, 07:39 AM

Hi Rich.

It has been a long time since I had an artillery sight removed from a pistol, but as I recall (and that gets harder all the time!) there is a VERY slight arch in the base so only the ends of the dovetail are in play when mounted. I don't think there is any spring action involved as the steel base is pretty substantial and I doubt it would "flex" to creat the spring action you are talking about. I don't see any other functional reason for the arch, so if you make it flat for simplicity sake, no harm no foul IMHO.

sheepherder · 03-14-2014, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

...so if you make it flat...

Hmmmm...I wasn't actually going to make a new artillery sight base (like I do for the C96 Mauser sight), I just wanted to know for when I cut the dovetail in the barrel...But a solid base for the Luger leaf (rather than the hollow base) is doable...A 'coffin' sight base, with a floor, that would be dovetailed externally...So the flat spring for the leaf would be contained inside the 'coffin'...

That is exactly how my C96 rear sight (on my Luger barrel) is made...

I'll have to think on that...

03-13-2014, 09:38 PM	#1
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	? about Artillery Rear Sight Base Is the base of the artillery rear sight supposed to be perfectly flat (on bottom) or have a slight 'arch' to it??? This is the part which slides into the large dovetail in the barrel (not the leaf). I am wondering if it is intended to have a slight spring action [the arch]? It seems awfully fragile...and soft... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

03-14-2014, 07:39 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Hi Rich. It has been a long time since I had an artillery sight removed from a pistol, but as I recall (and that gets harder all the time!) there is a VERY slight arch in the base so only the ends of the dovetail are in play when mounted. I don't think there is any spring action involved as the steel base is pretty substantial and I doubt it would "flex" to creat the spring action you are talking about. I don't see any other functional reason for the arch, so if you make it flat for simplicity sake, no harm no foul IMHO. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*