Old style sporting tang sight

Talk with other Shiloh Sharps shooters.

Moderators: Kirk, Lucinda

Post Reply
Youngblood
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue May 15, 2018 3:45 pm

Old style sporting tang sight

Post by Youngblood »

Image

Image

Top is Distant Thunder sharps sporting tang which i purchased for my Hartford big 50.

Bottom is supposed to be an original big 50 with that same type sight.

Notice the staffs are on the bases facing different directions.

Which is the correct way? Is one backwards? Which one?
SFogler
Posts: 524
Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 9:19 am

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by SFogler »

I think I got the first picture from one Mike Venturino had in his book Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West. The second picture is of an original sight on an original Sharps at the Colorado Gun Collectors Show in Denver.
scan0007 (800x434).jpg
I wanted a close copy of the original Sharps Sporter tang sight for my buffalo rifle and Distant Thunder made me mine.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Youngblood
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue May 15, 2018 3:45 pm

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by Youngblood »

Oh i see, very cool, thank you.

So on my posted pic of the original, the base has been reversed, looks like.

SFogler,

Yeah it was your big 50 and your buffler pics that i found out about the Distant Thunder sight, so i bought one for my Hartford on order and had it shipped to Shiloh. (Thank you)

I was aiming for an early big 50 Hartford type much like the original in my post above but mine will be double triggers.

Went with that Distant Thunder rear tang, Lawrence tall ladder, blade front, 32inch heavy-slow twist 1/36, plain wood, military butt, pewter tip, collar, in 50 2 1/2.
User avatar
kenny s
Posts: 775
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:14 am
Location: Venice FL

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by kenny s »

I put one on my original 74. looks great and you're right, the screw is reversed, no big deal.
I had him put the serial number of the original on the side of the sight. very slight charge.
just like they did back then....

Ken
Gussy
Posts: 1580
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 2:37 pm
Location: WA, dry side
Contact:

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by Gussy »

The bottom, original placement, should allow better cleaning rod clearance.
BFD
Posts: 2789
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:36 pm

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by BFD »

Whichever works best for your right thumb, with allowances for what Gussy said.

Very nice sight! I should have one of those on my Shiloh.
Stephen Borud
Posts: 1015
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:29 pm
Location: Casper Wyoming

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by Stephen Borud »

If memory serves me right, the original I saw did not have any sight marking on it.

SB
everetto
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu May 03, 2018 9:31 am
Location: Central New Mexico

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by everetto »

I have two of Jim's sights on a couple of my Shilohs and really like them.
User avatar
kenny s
Posts: 775
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:14 am
Location: Venice FL

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by kenny s »

Steve, check out the Sharps history, and you'll see they marked them with the rifles Serial number, but in
a semi circle. The one he did for me is straight . he really did a nice job on it.
I prefer to use the MVA on my target gun though.

Ken
Stephen Borud
Posts: 1015
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:29 pm
Location: Casper Wyoming

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by Stephen Borud »

kenny s wrote: Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:21 am Steve, check out the Sharps history, and you'll see they marked them with the rifles Serial number, but in
a semi circle. The one he did for me is straight . he really did a nice job on it.
I prefer to use the MVA on my target gun though.

Ken
Ken I was talking about minutes marked on the staff not the serial number. You have a very nice sight! Super cool.

SB
SFogler
Posts: 524
Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 9:19 am

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by SFogler »

I mostly wanted one for traditional reasons and to use on the buffalo shoot with that rifle. I knew I would not be adjusting the sight in the field but it completes "the look." I could fold the tang forward and see the barrel sights between the arms of the tang out to 125 yards. Then I could flip up the tang for out to 200 yards. I don't trust myself to shoot live animals at farther than that with a BPCR; just steel ones. I use MVA buffalo soule sights in competition. I thought Jim did a good job on the sporter tang; he made mine from just the pictures available. I think most had a few lines scratched onto the staff instead of actual minute marks but I'm ok with that; they don't show up very much.
User avatar
kenny s
Posts: 775
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:14 am
Location: Venice FL

Re: Old style sporting tang sight

Post by kenny s »

I absolutely recommend Jim's sights....look right on the Sharps, Ken
Post Reply