M1 Carbine Rear Sight help

[timn]

Ok. It's not technically gunsmithing, but it does belong to a smith friend.
We are looking for the early model L flip type rear sight for a M1 carbine. Three times we have been shipped the later, adjustable type and the dovetail is different.
We will buy or trade for the correct sight on this model.
any ideas??
Thanks..

 

[dfariswheel]

"the dovetail is different" ???????

The dovetail on USGI M1 Carbines are ALL the same size and all three types of sights are totally interchangeable.

Carbine rear sights are typically a very tight fit, which is why there was an Ordnance tool to remove and install them without breaking the receiver dovetail.

Original flip-type sights are very much in demand and are hard to find.
Replicas are available.

 

[timn]

"the dovetail is different" ???????

You may be absolutely right.
I'm the first to admit that I don't know diddly about the carbine.
I was told that there was an early type1 that was only manufactured for a couple of years and that they had a different rear sight. The sights that we have been getting have a dovetail that measures .576" from sharp edge to sharp edge. The dovetail in the receiver measures .671" from sharp to sharp. Add in the cut and you can see that there is considerable difference. Was this receiver re-cut somewhere along the line? It doesn't look like it.
This is an Inland with the number 363637 stamped on the top rear of the receiver.

 

[dfariswheel]

You'd have to ask about very early Carbines from a collector who's "up" on that, but I've never heard anything about an early dovetail size, and I've never seen any early sight except the "L" type flip model.

I used to have the book "The War Baby" written by the #one top Carbine expert, and he mentioned nothing about any early dovetail or sight.
Since the book is THE collector's reference, and he discusses everything about the Carbine, if a different sight and dovetail was used he would have mentioned it.

It sounds like the cut has been modified.
Remember, Carbines were built 60 years ago, and have been in who knows how many hands.
They've been altered, refinished, and have had non-standard sights and parts installed, then removed again, and it's often not possible to spot the changes until you try to install something else.

In this case, what you'll have to do is shim the sight.
There are several methods of doing this.
One is to have a GOOD welder build up the SIGHT'S dovetail, then file to fit.
All that's necessary is two spots applied to the dovetail.

The second method is to make a steel shim that can be installed into the receiver slot WITH the sight.

Another method is to simply epoxy the sight in place.