Tang sights?

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the Black Spot

the Black Spot

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Fixin to get my hands on marlin 1894cb. Want to put a tang sight on there, and i am not too familiar with them. I would like one that you adjust and then you can lay it back and then flip up as needed. I do not want one that has to be tightened everytime its flipped up. Am i lookin for a marbles, lyman?
Thanks
 
Try midwayusa.com. They have Marble tang sights for your rifle with windage adjustment.

If cost is a concern, get a sight without windage adjustment and a coke can. Cut tiny slips from the coke can and put one under one side of the sight base to adjust windage.
 
So the marbles can just be flipped up and they'll stay?
Friend had some sight that everytime u flipped it up you had to tighten down a knob to hold it up.
 
I used to run a Lyman #2 on a Winchester '94... recoil flipped it down every time I fired it. I never read or heard anything about tightening a knob, but that may explain the little ring on the side. I might have to see what I can find out of curiosity.

Post #2... shims... that does work. I'd recommend getting your windage right, then use a front sight that gives you a 100yd or 200yd zero with your tang sight bottomed out. Then you don't wonder whether the elevation is correct in the field.
 
May I ask what the driver is for the tang sight? I ask because, a tang sight is generally adopted when considerable elevation may be involved. With a pistol caliber lever gun, do you intend shooting beyond 150 yards ?

I'm no fan of buckhorn sights, so perfectly understand if an aperture rear sight is an objective. Cosmetically, a well made tang sight can be quite pleasing, so that's also a consideration.

But for a pistol caliber lever gun, a vintage Lyman aperture sight mounted on the receiver, a Williams FP sight, or the Marbles Bullseye rear sight (mounts in place of the Buckhorn sight) might all be functionally and economically more suitable.
 
Well, the goal is to sight the buckhorn in for 50yds and the tang for 100 yds and still be able to hunt with it. (Older eyes)
The tang is more "period" and looks better on an old west type.
I even toyed with a removable scope used just for hunting. Open sights for targets/metal gong etc.
 
The Marbles is the way to go, I have one mounted on a Rossi 92 45 Colt, stays tight windage adjustable. Does your Marlin cb have a tang safety, it may be an issue on mounting ?
 
I've got Williams FP peeps on all my leverguns, they work really well. I have taken my Marlin 1894 in .41MAG out to 600yds with just that receiver sight... yes, it was almost out of the stops to do it, but it did it.

Question for you: Is it already drilled and tapped for a tang sight? Is the SN on the tang? Those two questions will dictate what you can do.

My gaggle of lever-guns... all with Williams. Nice thing about the Williams, you can real quick unscrew the rear peep disk... and it turns it into a ghost ring sight for low light. If you look at my 1895 on the left, you will note the tang is already tapped for a tang sight... but look at the other Marlins there... the SN is on the tang. You have to be careful about tapping the tang that you don't alter the SN... just saying.

dqykfhol.jpg
 
LRDGCO said:
May I ask what the driver is for the tang sight? I ask because, a tang sight is generally adopted when considerable elevation may be involved. With a pistol caliber lever gun, do you intend shooting beyond 150 yards ?
Click to expand...
While tang sights WERE used for long range shooting, many an old timer in the Ozarks, who knew what was what, had a tang sight on his Model 94 Winchester. I have a tang sight on my Stevens Favorite (made in 1885).

The advantages of the tang sight are:

1. It's an aperture (peep) sight which is provably better than an open sight.
2. It has a looooooong sight radius, which makes for better accuracy.
3. It's not bulky like a scope or even typical receiver-mounted peep sights.
 
Last edited:
Tang sights are fun and useful also. The wife has a 94/22 she had drilled and tapped for a Marbles tang sight. I also have a couple of rifles that are so equipped. The Marbles and Lyman are both good sights. Any decent gunsmith should be able to drill and fall for one.
 
Thanks Craig!(great lookin rifle!) Seriously lookin at the marbles sight. The front sight on these have a rather large brass bead. May file that down some.
Pretty sure these are 1:38 twist(once i get the cleaning rod out, i will make sure). Thinking my Lyman 452423 245 gr bullet may work well.
 
Yeah, the Cowboys come with a big front bead. I seem to recall that I replaced it on my 20" Marlin CB but it has a Williams Foolproof in the rear. It shoots extremely well with a 240gr SWC at around 1450fps.
 
the Black Spot said:
Well, mine is a 1:38 twist with a bore size .451
Hope to cast some bullets soon and get to shootin!
Click to expand...

Just FYI, depending on the bullet weight, you will have to step those out pretty fast. I loaded some very nice Keith 270grn bullets over a sedate charge of Unique for a new-to-me Marlin 1894... and they printed a shotgun pattern. It had 1:38 twist. Lighter bullets should be OK, but if you run anything heavy you are going to have to launch it with authority... that slow twist isn't enough to stabilize heavy bullets at moderate velocity.
 
Great that your Marlin's serial number isn't on the top tang! Makes D&T holes for a tang sight much easier, and legal too!
I use vernier tang sights on my lever actions and single shot rifles. I prefer the vernier style as settings can be dialed in by looking at the marks on the side of the staff, and good ones are very repeatable.
This one on my '94 Marlin also has windage adjustment.

CfLpXqR.jpg
 
Ran the rifle with 18 gr of 2400 and a lee 452-252 swc(didnt have any 452423's cast yet). Shot pretty good at 50 yds.
Didnt kick like i thought it would.
Finally got some different bullets cast up, so will try those.
I found an old tang sight i used to have on my 444ss and may install that on there when i get it back from the 'smith(gettin action smoothed, it was rough)
 
An interesting variation on tang sights is the "hidden" sight in the wrist of this Westley Richards double rifle. It is activated by pressing the small tab. I've never used it because this is basically a dangerous game rifle meant for close range. And it has a beautiful set of folding sights on the barrels anyway... DSC_0133.JPG DSC_0130.JPG DSC_0134.JPG
 
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