Carcano front sight

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Mr_Flintstone

Mr_Flintstone

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I recently bought a Carcano cavalry carbine, and to put it mildly, I’m struggling with the unique Carcano sight picture. I’m not a collector, and I don’t plan to sell the rifle in the future, but I don’t want to do something permanent that will change the value down the road if the price goes way up and I do sell. So, what are my options for adding some height to the front sight to make the sight picture more like traditional blade sights without making a permanent change to the gun?

My gun is one of the ones that has the front post integral to the barrel, with the bayonet mount sliding up against the sight and attached with a screw.
F58314DC-861C-47E8-B6EB-4E143C2A2321.jpeg

My original thought would be to solder something on top of the post to raise it up to where it needs to be for a traditional sight picture. Has anyone done anything like this or have suggestions on how to proceed?
 
You can definitely solder/braze/weld extra material to the front sight, but if it's just a plinker, I'd just add JB weld or something similar. Add a solid amount, then file to preference.
 
No, don't do anything to it other than to darken it. I've used cold blue, which does need to be refreshed from time to time. Also make sure your rear sight is black. You don't need to change the sight, you just need more practice with the sight picture. Posting yet again, for your benefit:

index.php


It's not a target rifle - don't expect it to shoot like one. I'm assuming you bought it to have a little fun, not to win a match. Adapt yourself to the rifle, not the rifle to you. Like an Italian soldier would have had to do. Learn your sight picture. Find your POI for POA and adjust hold accordingly. I have several Carcanos and they're all different. So ... have fun!! And be sure to post pics!! :)
 
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wiscoaster said:
No, don't do anything to it other than to darken it. I've used cold blue, which does need to be refreshed from time to time. Also make sure your rear sight is black. You don't need to change the sight, you just need more practice with the sight picture. Posting yet again, for your benefit:

index.php


It's not a target rifle - don't expect it to shoot like one. I'm assuming you bought it to have a little fun, not to win a match. Adapt yourself to the rifle, not the rifle to you. Like an Italian soldier would have had to do. Learn your sight picture. Find your POI for POA and adjust hold accordingly. I have several Carcanos and they're all different. So ... have fun!! And be sure to post pics!! :)
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Due to my eyesight, when I aim with a fine bead like that, all I see is a black blur. I can see much better with a full front sight post.
 
The fixed sight Carcanos are zeroed for 300 meters. You aim for the enemy's belt buckle and you may hit him somewhere between his neck and abdomen between 25 and 600 meters.

Greek game wardens issued captured Carcanos hated them because four-legged problems are more horizontal than vertical and require more precise elevation.

I soldered a piece of copper wire across the top of my Carcano's front blade, smoothed the profile, and sprayed the sight with flat black auto motor black enamel.

You could degrease the blade, build it up with JB weld, let it cure for 48 hours, then profile the add -on with file and emery board and blacken it. It is easier to remove epoxy than it is to remove solder.

A lot of us like to use the sight picture we are most familiar with.
 
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Mr_Flintstone said:
Due to my eyesight, ....
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Well, most eveybody, especially past a "certain age", shares that kind of a problem, including me. There are numerous threads and posts here from various members detailing their solutions. Mine is a special "shooting glasses" prescription from my optometrist.

I just don't know why a person would buy a Carcano and then not shoot it like a Carcano. Might as well get another rifle you don't have to modify to accomodate your eyesight.
 
wiscoaster said:
Well, most eveybody, especially past a "certain age", shares that kind of a problem, including me. There are numerous threads and posts here from various members detailing their solutions. Mine is a special "shooting glasses" prescription from my optometrist.

I just don't know why a person would buy a Carcano and then not shoot it like a Carcano. Might as well get another rifle you don't have to modify to accomodate your eyesight.
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Maybe because their cheap alternatives to just rifles?

I'd much rather pay $275 for a milsurp rifle that won't really hurt me to mess with than a $400 rifle.

That's what my grandad did with his Mosin. Why pay $400 when you can pay $75 for a full working rifle , and modify it to you?
 
wiscoaster said:
Well, most eveybody, especially past a "certain age", shares that kind of a problem, including me. There are numerous threads and posts here from various members detailing their solutions. Mine is a special "shooting glasses" prescription from my optometrist.

I just don't know why a person would buy a Carcano and then not shoot it like a Carcano. Might as well get another rifle you don't have to modify to accomodate your eyesight.
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Because that’s my right as an American to do so. And if I want to paint it pink and cover it with glitter and My Little Pony stickers and mount a 16x scope bolted to the side of the stock, well that’s my right too.

I like to keep things original as much as possible, but I don’t cotton to gun snobbery or someone telling me that I have to do something the way they do because “that’s the way it’s done”.
 
Mr_Flintstone said:
.... but I don’t cotton to gun snobbery or someone telling me that I have to do something the way they do because “that’s the way it’s done”.
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Sorry if that's how it came across; that wasn't my intent. It's your gun, it's your right to do whatever you want with it, in any way that you want.
It's also my right to voice my opinion about what I think is the best way to do what you want with it, and it's not gun snobbery if I do that, it's my right to freely express my opinion as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. And as we are both Americans with rights, we should respect each other's rights. So if you come to a public forum asking for opinion, you should be prepared that some of that opinion may be disagreeable to you, and you may choose to accept it, or disagree with it, or just ignore it, but you should not censure it.
 
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wiscoaster said:
Sorry if that's how it came across; that wasn't my intent. It's your gun, it's your right to do whatever you want with it, in any way that you want.
It's also my right to voice my opinion about what I think is the best way to do what you want with it, and it's not gun snobbery if I do that, it's my right to freely express my opinion as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. And as we are both Americans with rights, we should respect each other's rights. So if you come to a public forum asking for opinion, you should be prepared that some of that opinion may be disagreeable to you, and you may choose to accept it, or disagree with it, or just ignore it, but you should not censure it.
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You are exactly right. You do have that right. You can say anything you like, but you should be mindful of the tone in which you say it, and not try to throw the blame back on me for calling you on it. I asked for opinions on how to accomplish a task without damaging my gun; not to be told that I’m ignorant or stupid for wanting to modify it so I can see the sights.
 
Mr_Flintstone said:
....but you should be mindful of the tone in which you say it...
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No, the First Amendment does not say that is HOW I have to restrict my exercise of my right to freely express myself. This forum may exercise that restriction as a rule of membership, and I do not believe that anything I've said or any way in which I've said it here violates any forum rules. But if you disagree, the proper method for addressing that is to click the "Report" button on the post(s) you believe violated forum rules.
 
wiscoaster said:
No, the First Amendment does not say that is HOW I have to restrict my exercise of my right to freely express myself. This forum may exercise that restriction as a rule of membership, and I do not believe that anything I've said or any way in which I've said it here violates any forum rules. But if you disagree, the proper method for addressing that is to click the "Report" button on the post(s) you believe violated forum rules.
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Listen buddy, you’ve missed the point completely, and I don’t intend to spend any more time on it. Your opinion means a little less than nothing to me right now. Feel free to reply and rebut all you want to, but I’m done with this thread, and don’t intend to return to see it. The admins can lock it for all I care. Good day, and god bless.
 
I use that sight picture when I shoot K98 rifle. I point the point at the bottom of the notch and use it like a dot sight.
 
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