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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Building Double Rifles & Gunsmithing

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LTK
.224 member

Reged: 27/02/24
Posts: 31
Loc: Alberta Canada

Making front sight.
#383754 - 30/03/24 02:44 AM

I have to make a front sight for my A. Henry double rifle. I am considering putting an ivory "bead" on the front. My questions are, what would be the best way to attach the ivory to the steel (I assume a 2 part epoxy but which one) and, is there any reason to NOT do this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26610
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Making front sight. [Re: LTK]
#383757 - 30/03/24 03:58 AM

The best way, is to drill (1/32") a hole in the sight blade, for a protrusion (peg) of ivory on the backside of the bead.
This will give a larger bonding surface.
The bead must be made with the peg or protrusion out behind the round 'front'.
Another way is to use high-temp silver solder (brazing silver) and have a rounded puddle on back of the sight blade. Temperature control is vital to achieve this.
Hopefully there are other "better" ways.
I've never done either of these.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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450_EXPRESS
.333 member

Reged: 04/01/09
Posts: 342
Loc: S.C.Montana

Re: Making front sight. [Re: DarylS]
#383815 - 01/04/24 08:44 AM

I have a .450 BPE with a small brass bead that works great in good light but not so much when it gets dim. There's not enough room to do a flip up night sight so I took a piece of mild steel, drilled it out for clearance of the bead, turned it down to the size I wanted, then counter bored the face of the tube so it had a good lip on it. Then I split the tube so it would slide over the sight and have a firm fit. Then I took a piece of Walrus Ivory and turned it down so it fit in the lips of the tube. I glued it in using Super Glue, then shaped the face of the ivory. It just slips over the existing sight and has worked well for me.

I was told years ago the Walrus Ivory was better than elephant because it doesn't yellow. I've also used it dovetailed into ramp sight, for instance a Ruger Blackhawk, my 1911 and they've held up well too.

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LTK
.224 member

Reged: 27/02/24
Posts: 31
Loc: Alberta Canada

Re: Making front sight. [Re: 450_EXPRESS]
#383840 - 02/04/24 01:36 AM

Quote:

I have a .450 BPE with a small brass bead that works great in good light but not so much when it gets dim. There's not enough room to do a flip up night sight so I took a piece of mild steel, drilled it out for clearance of the bead, turned it down to the size I wanted, then counter bored the face of the tube so it had a good lip on it. Then I split the tube so it would slide over the sight and have a firm fit. Then I took a piece of Walrus Ivory and turned it down so it fit in the lips of the tube. I glued it in using Super Glue, then shaped the face of the ivory. It just slips over the existing sight and has worked well for me.

I was told years ago the Walrus Ivory was better than elephant because it doesn't yellow. I've also used it dovetailed into ramp sight, for instance a Ruger Blackhawk, my 1911 and they've held up well too.

That is an interesting idea. I talked to a buddy yesterday (Daryl's brother) as he has experience with this sort of thing as is, IMO, the best ML builder in the country, whether Ivory was a good choice or should I go with fine silver or even gold as they would be MUCH easier to attach (solder) and would perhaps work as well. My wife said she would look to see if she has any gold jewelry that I can cut up should I choose to go that route. I have pretty much abandoned the ivory idea. I was going to use Elf ivory because that is what I have. I appreciate the idea.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26610
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Making front sight. [Re: LTK]
#383841 - 02/04/24 02:11 AM

LOL- is Elf ivory better than Elk? (yeah- typo, I know) The brass bead I soldered onto my .69's front blade shines like a beacon in dull light.

Of course, there has to be enough light, to "light it up". A larger diameter bead would, of course, be brighter yet. The bead in the picture is very small.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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LTK
.224 member

Reged: 27/02/24
Posts: 31
Loc: Alberta Canada

Re: Making front sight. [Re: DarylS]
#383846 - 02/04/24 03:06 AM

Brass would certainly work (I thought about that briefly) but, being an Alex Henry double rifle I feel it deserves some special jewelry. Even @ >$3000 oz CAD, the cost of that little piece of gold would be negligible.

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3DogMike
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1429
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA

Re: Making front sight. [Re: LTK]
#383851 - 02/04/24 08:40 AM

LTK,
The easy (& Legal) way to source Elephant ivory is old vintage piano keys from wrecked/junk pianos.
- Mike

--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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