Fitting the dovetail with a Lyman globe front sight

[fecmech]

The male dovetail on the Lyman globe front sight I have is larger than the dovetail on my winchester rifle. To fit these it appears to me that one should carefully remove material from the bottom of the globe as to make the male dovetail smaller. At what point do you stop?? Approximately how far in should you be able to start it by hand before using a brass drift? Thanks Nick

 

[rcmodel]

The Lyman Globe sight dovetail was different, and made to fit the Lyman base they went on.

It probably can be made to fit the Winchester standard dovetail like you outlined.

I like to go about 1/8 way in, enough to insure it is square with the dovetail.
Then trial fit several times with a soft punch, filing just a frog-hair each try.

Be sure to oil or grease the dovetail to prevent galling while trial fitting.

rc

 

[nicholst55]

Actually, Lyman has made several globe sights over the century or so they've been around. Their #17 is the most commonly encountered, and comes with two different size dovetails. They have a #17 for standard 3/8' American dovetails, and a #17EU for the slightly larger European dovetail. I suspect you have a #17EU.

It's not particularly difficult to file down the male dovetail until it will fit into the standard American 3/8" dovetail.

 

[fecmech]

The one I have is the 17AHB which says it's designed for the standard 3/8 dovetail. I plan on installing it tomorrow. Thanks for the replies. Nick