Iron sights were invented when?

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I'm reading a great book right now, Quicksilver it's a fictionalized story of the golden age of scientific discovery, 1650 to 1700. They talk about the development of gunpowder and firearms, and I got to thinking, when were iron sights developed? If I recall the classic blunderbuss, with the bell shaped muzzle (as used in the book) I don't remember ever seeing iron sights on these early firearms.

Did the muzzle loaders of the American Revolution have sights? I remember from the movie The Patriot, that the main character told his sons, setting up an ambush on the British, "aim small, miss small" but I don't remember seeing sights on the rifles.

So when did early firearms makers discover that putting a little post on one end and little notch on the other end of a firearm, increase the accuracy for it?

 

[Oleg Volk]

Range and drift-adustable sights on rifled firearms date back to at least 1510.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Well, rifling was invented in the early 1500s, IIRC, so I'd bet that sights were also invented around the same time to take advantage of the better ballistics.

Rudimentary sights on cannon would have been common at this time, too.

Revolutionary War era muskets had a "sight" that was actually the locking stud for the bayonet. But, it served generally as the bead on a shotgun serves. Point and shoot, and the volley fire from the guys standing around you hopefully does the job.

 

[Ironbarr]

Well, knowing a good shot when I see one... I'd say iron sights were developed late in the Iron Age when some smart guy mounted them on his spear(s).



Sorry about that.

I have no idea when iron sights were first used.

 

[telewinz]

IIRC they were used with cannons first.

 

[4v50 Gary]

rear aperture sights were fitted to crossbows.

 

[mete]

The patridge sight was invented by E.E.Patridge about 1880. This sight works very well because he first did research on how the eye works, then using that info he created sights that took advantage of the eyes properties.