marlin front sight dovetail

[greyling22]

I've got an older marlin 1894 in 357 (pre safety gun) the front sight is dovetailed into the barrel. I've measured, and the widest part at the base looks to be about .5 inches, and the top about .36 inches. does that sound right? would that be a standard 1/2" dovetail?

(the ultimate goal being to find a fiber front sight I can see better.)

 

[rcmodel]

Hmmmmm?

3/8" dovetails have been the U.S. standard since the 1860's or so, except for 1/4" front ramp dovetails.

It might be 1/2", but you will probably have a hard time finding a fiber optic front sight that size.

rc

 

[greyling22]

well I know 3/8 is the most common, and it was what I was expecting on an older (maybe '75) marlin. perhaps I am measuring the wrong part? does the 3/8 in a 3/8 dovetail mean the bottom/fat part. or the narrow part at the top?

because I crudely measured .36 at the top (didn't pop the sight out, just measured as best I could with it in the notch), and 3/8 is .375. that could me a measurement error on my part. a standard dovetail sure would make things easier. then all I need is a 1/2 inch tall sight. willaims, hi-viz and truglo all make one. and I assume they are all about the same quality.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, the 3/8" / .375" measurement is at the bottom of the dovetail barrel cut.
The big part of the dovetail on the sight will measure slightly less then that.

I don't know what to tell you?
Maybe somebody had a loose sight and cut it for a bigger dovetail to fix it??
Or maybe Marlin used 1/2" dovetails then?
I don't know, but I don't think I've ever seen one.

rc

 

[Red Cent]

I have a 38-55 Marlin 336CB with safety. The dovetail slots on mine are 3/8". Put blank in rear slot, installed a tang sight and globe on front.

 

[greyling22]

RC, you confused me a little bit there, the big part measures less than the small part? maybe I"m just a little slow today. lets try a picture.

so in the attached horrible drawing of a side view of a barrel (with bullet and flames!) and an oversized dovetail: which color line should measure 3/8 on a 3/8 dovetail? the red or the green?

my red line is about .36 and my green is about .5

 

[rcmodel]

The bottom of the dovetail GREEN line should measure .375".

The top RED line has nothing to do with anything, as it would be different on every different barrel diameter you measured.
It would even be different between the front & rear 3/8" dovetail on a tapered barrel.

rc

 

[Red Cent]

Bottom of dovetail is 3/8". Not sure about the little thing or big thing.

I removed the gold bead front sight and replaced it with a globe.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=752564

Then I removed the rear sight and replaced it with a blank.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=383424

Put on a Marbles tang sight.

 

[greyling22]

ok, thanks guys. I guess I'm just out of luck unless I want to jbweld a sight in there.

 

[Red Cent]

Read my other post. Seems rather clear to me.

 

[greyling22]

I'm not sure how a tang sight or globe front sight with a 3/8 dovetail fixes the fact taht I have what appears to be a 1/2 inch dovetail. if a 3/8 fiber won't fit in, a 3/8 globe won't either.

my rear sight is a 3/8 dovetail, but I have no problem with it.

 

[BBBBill]

Any smith worth the title that has a mill and knows how to use it can make a sight to fit complete with a hole for a fiber lite pipe.

 

[Red Cent]

"I'm not sure how a tang sight or globe front sight with a 3/8 dovetail fixes the fact taht I have what appears to be a 1/2 inch dovetail. if a 3/8 fiber won't fit in, a 3/8 globe won't either.

my rear sight is a 3/8 dovetail, but I have no problem with it."

HUHHHHH???!! I wasn't referring to you. RCmodel asked about the dovetail width and I gave him an example. Sheeeeeessshh!

 

[rcmodel]

I did?

rc