Got a potential bead on an old school 1894 that is beat up, in need of love and right up my alley. Problem is, I want to run a peep sight like either the Lyman 66A or Williams 5D, and I'm pretty sure the receiver is not drilled and tapped to accept one. Anyone ever done this on an old '94? What was the approximate cost? How sacrilegious is it to do this to a pre '64? Pictures of the receiver below. Thanks in advance for any input!

I *probably* wouldn’t do it myself. If you are just looking for a little help shooting the gun more accurately, I would use the turnbull red dot mount. It isn’t traditional like a peep, but it’s probably faster and more accurate. In addition, it doesn’t require any modifications to the gun. Although I don’t personally have one, it is on my list if my eyes get to the point the traditional sights don’t work.

On the other hand, based on what the photo shows for condition and stock fit, it’s not like you are drilling into a pristine gun. If you really want a peep, maybe it’s worth it.

Turnbull Dot Mount

That's a good looking option. Kinda want to keep this one true to the technology available at the date of its manufacture, though, so I think a peep is the move. Turns out there are a few smiths near where I'm stationed, so I'll probably have one of them do it.

As it turns out, the furniture is cracked and looks like hell... so gonna be a bit of a project. Should be fun, though!

Normally I would say don’t mess with the originality, but it looks like there isn’t any collectibility left in the old girl. Perfect candidate for improvements. A proper D&T for a receiver sight isn’t going to hurt, much worse has been done to nicer specimens.

Yep, that's what I was thinking... apparently it may not be available after all.

If anyone has a similar condition .30-30 laying around they want to turn into cash, shoot me a PM!

That is not a collector's piece. It is a hunging gun. The sights run about $100 and gunsmithing, I have no idea. But do it!

That is what I did to my 94. MUCH faster and more accurate at all ranges - 25-150.

Have you considered a tang sight?

Looked at those. Good option for sure, but receiver mounted peeps seem a little more streamlined and robust.


Wish I coul, evidently this is no longer for sale. So I'm in the olde market again

I almost posted the exact same question over the last couple days. I’ve got a prewar 32WS. Heading my way that I was considering cutting to 16” barrel and mounting a reciever peep but now reconsidering as it’s in pretty decent shape. May just have to find a more recent version in worse shape. Or chop the barrel on my model 64 which has already had the receiver drilled for a side mount scope.

I've got 2 94s, both in 32WSP. My grandfather's is from 1907 and has a Lyman tang sight. My project gun is from '67 and has a Williams FP receiver sight, a FireEye fiber optic front, and (blasphemy) a scout rail.

Some thoughts and opinions.

First, I view receiver sights to be period correct. To be $uper period correct, $eek out a vintage Lyman. I believe (you should confirm this) that the old Lymans and current Williams use the same hole pattern. If I'm correct (and I'm often not) that would allow you to toss a Williams in there now till you (or the next owner) finds a period correct Lyman.

I find the Lyman tang sight to far superior to the Williams in terms of visual acuity. Getting the aperture (aka peep) closer to the eye makes a huge difference, particularly out at 200 yds.

My tang sight has no windage adjustment and it took careful work and some beer (sorry Gramps) can shims to get it perfectly(ish) vertical. Prior to that, it would move to one side increasingly when adjusted higher since it was out of plum. In contrast, the FP has click adjustments for both elevation and windage. I have a 5D on an air gun and I think the FP is well worth the additional cost.

My grandfather never flipped his express sight and just used the short zero for 50-100 yds. Where we hunt in Vermont, 50 yds is a long shot. He also never used the tang sight. He was a hunter, not a shooter, and the tang sight would get busted while tracking in the tight woods if left up. And left down, it would just be an unneeded complexity for quick shots. I settled on setting my tang sight for a longer 140 yd zero. I figured if I needed to make a long shot, I would have the time to flip it up.

My eyes have been getting worse and I like shooting at the range as well as hunting. I got a tall front sight which allows me to get a sight picture above the scout rail I've added. I'm going to move to see through rings so I can duplicate the high/low approach; peeps zeroed for 100 for quick and close and a 150 ud zero on the scope for long shots.

Sorry for the length and hope something here is helpful. All this to say, I prefer the Lyman tang sight at the range, particularly when shooting lead, and I strongly prefer the FP/FireEye combo for tracking.

All excellent observations! I thought the same thing about the Lyman vs Williams- a few more bucks for the Lyman, but totally worth it to match the vintage style of a '94, especially if I end up finding one that's pre-64. Seems like the supply has really dried up lately

There’s a lot of 94s out there, but the supply of reasonably priced working guns has dwindled …..everyone thinks theirs is a collectable specimen. Kinda like that with Marlin 336s too.

Yea
Yeah they do. Gunbroker has remlins listed for almost a thousand bucks right now... I picked one up for like $275 not that long ago. For some reason lever guns are just wild right now

Turnbull red dot mounts are excellent and they are offered in two types of red dot foot print.
However attachment is via the two holes one would otherwise drill and tap for a receiver mounted peep sight.

This is not entirely correct. There are two red dot mounts offered by turnbull. One of them uses the peep holes and the other uses the dovetail slot of the rear sight. The dovetail version puts the dot farther forward (obviously) and requires no drilling.

Got another one for the lever gurus. Have an opportunity to come into ownership of a pretty cool looking Marlin 1893. Stock blade sights would be limiting for hunting use- are there tang mounted peeps I could install without having to drill and tap anything?

Yes, a Lyman # 1 or 2 tang sight with the letter code "J" (for .32-40 & .38-55) or "JA" stamp on the bottom. Also the Marbles M4 (for .32-40 & .38-55) or M5 marked tang sights. A bit hard to find at times but they show up on ebay now and then like this one. Lyman
Also Marbles offers modern made tang sights that will fit

This is my 1893 .32-40 with a Lyman #1 "J" marked sight

i put a Williams FP aperture sight on my 35/30-30 (JES REBORING) in a 1972 Winchester m94 when my eyes.... i mean the deer got blurry .

100 yards sighting it in


i have prescription glasses and that lets me see over 25 yards . dang nearsightedness!!!

i love the Lyman, Redfield and Williams aperture sights. i was in the Army ('91 - '97) when i was introduced to the aperture sight. i fell in love with m16a2. then i forgot about them for 20ish years..


now i use them on custom military sporters

1944 '98 Mauser in 8x57


1903 1898 Springfield Armory in 30-40 Krag


early war Type 99 Arisaka in 30-06
[img]https://i.imgur.com/U3EDdTV.jpg?1[/img]

i also have a Lyman aprture sight on my 1891 Argentine Mauser in 7.65x53.

That's a beautiful rifle! Thinking I'll probably go with the Marble sight for now... are you able to cycle the bolt fully with the peep in its upward position?

Before spending dime one on new sights shoot some groups to see if the gun has an accuracy potential in the first place..mb

Like the idea, but not sure if the blade sights would give any legitimate insight into the rifle's potential. Tough to hold a decent group with those things no matter how the rifle shoots

My rifle will cycle without contacting the sight staff in the up position. Mine's an early vintage Lyman so I can't comment on the Marbles. If you're thinking of a new made Marbles it might be worth a call.

Awesome, thanks so much for the info! I actually heard back from marbles and they said the sight would have to be folded down to cycle. So, I'll be on the lookout for one of those older Lymans

That's disappointing. What caliber is your 1893? I can keep an eye out for you.

.30-30, smokeless stamped. Takedown model. Much appreciated!

Another option is a tang sight from MVA. They list their Combination tang sight as being available for original 1883s. Not inexpensive but quality made.

I have an old (1886) '73 Winchester with a tang sight, I'm really not a fan. But I am a huge fan of receiver sights and as we age, aperture sights make more and more sense.

Drilling and tapping for them is not difficult and I did my 92 Rossi .44 Magnum very recently. I first put a cheap Williams (pictured) on it, but then found a Lyman 66 and swapped them out.



If I had my druthers, I'd mount one of the old Redfield's, but they're scarce and expensive.

To drill and tap all one needs is a drill press, a compound vise, the correct drill bit and tap, and patience.