That sure looks like a near virgin MVA midrange vernier. BTW, it seems to be set at 0.32" if you are curious but are not familiar with reading vernier scales.
Thanks Brent. I am still learning them. I had Ron Heilman one on my first Hartford that I regrettably sold before becoming familiar with it. I have MLV's book that explains them pretty well.
If I wanted to sell the rear sight (and the front globe for that matter) what would be a good and fair price to ask? I am going to put a penny front sight on and go the Bagwell route and use the barrel sight.
If I keep it I thought about taking the eye piece off but when I did it gives a nice big hole but I don't think it works too well with the full buckhorn rear.
Go to montanavintagearms.com and confirm that you have a 107 or 108 model and see what they are worth new. Then price it accordingly. That looks like "as new" to me, so maybe 75% of new would be a good asking price? Front globe depends. With a level or not matters to many.
I'd stick with that particular tang sight however, though I've been told it doesn't work very well. A whole lotta dead critters disagree however...
It is an excellent sight for hunting or informal target shooting. It will probably not reach past ~8-900 yds, and it is suboptimal as a competition sight, but otherwise it is hard to beat.
I can reach 1000 with my MVA mid range with the .44-90 bn. You can always turn the base around and that will work for the 1K but you will shoot over the 100 doing this.
My bet is that if you remove the sight there will be an "A" stamped inside of a shield on the bottom of the sight base, making it a "Riflesmith" sight made in Sheridan Montana by Axtell Rifle Company. Midrange. And the finish looks to be pretty well worn as these were meticulously polished and nitre blued. These sights will develop "Brown" spots that look like rust(but cannot be removed with "Big Frontier 45" http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/Customers/ or steel wool) if not cared for (cleaned and oiled) properly. In your original question on the other thread you stated it was color case hardened, it is/was not case colored. What you have is blotchy blue/gray remaining finish. It would look great on a heavily "Antiqued" Quigley model Shiloh. Chris
Forgot to mention, this would be a Riflesmith "#5 Transition" sight. The same one Shiloh originally used on their "Quigley" model. Riflesmith is out of business now and these sights, in excellent condition; are bringing a premium price. Chris
If it is case colored, it's not an MVA or an Axtell. Kelly is the only case colored sight I can think of and I have never seen a Kelly that was not a Soule configuration. Looks like a nice sight in any event.
Very true. It feels well made too. It is a lot closer to the Heilman I had than it is to the Italian job that came on the Rough Rider with the "lean" windage adjustment! I think I am going to keep it either way.
In this photo, elevator and windage knobs, the eyecup, the ball that holds the lower end of the elevator, the locknut on the elevator screw, and the entire windage assemble all scream MVA to me. But the finish of an MVA is always a glossy jet black. And Axtells are always bright niter blued. Perhaps you have an MVA with some post purchase refinishing to better match the rifle?