What would have been the first military rifle to use aperture sights?

[R.W.Dale]

The other thread got me to thinking about aperture sights on infantry rifles and I realized I don't know which rifle/country adopted their use first?

Was it the US with the garand 1936

The French MAS in 1936

Or the British No4 mkI in ??

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I know the US had aperture sights prior to the Garand. I believe it was the A3 model of the 1903 that had aperture sights.

 

[Cosmoline]

There were actually MATCHLOCKS with primitive aperture sights.

http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd242/GrampsHans/Turkish matchlock rifle/

The Type 38 Arisaka also sported them.

 

[rcmodel]

The 03A3 came into being during WWII, well after the M1 Garand.

But the early 1903 Springfield had an aparture sight as part of the open blade sight system.

As did the 1902 .30 Gov Krag.

Before that, there was the Buffington sight, as used on the 1873 Springfield in 1884.
http://www.militaryrifles.com/US/88AllinRod&Sight.htm

rc

 

[MTMilitiaman]

My bad.

 

[dogsoldier0513]

Don't forget the 1917 Eddystone/Enfield.

 

[dfariswheel]

The standard 1903 Springfield has an aperture sight, but it's placed on the barrel with the standard leaf with the notches.

When dealing with firearms, trying to determine "the first" of anything is usually impossible.
Over about 800 years, just about everything was attempted at one time or another.

 

[USSR]

Don't forget the 1917 Eddystone/Enfield.

Close. But remember, the M1917 was adapted from the P14 that we built in .303 for the Brits.

Don

 

[OFT]

The 1861 Springfield had a combination of V and aperature sights for use at longer ranges. The Buffington sight on the trap-door Springfields had combination V and aperature sights similar to the sight on the '03 Springfield.