8. Sights 171

8. Sights 171 8. Sights Literature Durdik, Jan, Alte Feuerwaffen, Hanau, 1977, DuJa Private Collections Historical Overview No Aiming In general, the development of sights and barrels happened simultaneously. The actual sequence of the development is barely recognizable. The design of the sights depended on the creativity and ability of the gunsmiths or even the gun owner. Because of their handling and inaccuracies in the oldest guns, taking aim was not practical or possible. This is why, neither front nor rear sights can be found on these guns. Barrel Surface With the introduction of the stocked arquebus and wall gun, aiming over the barrel was possible. This aiming method was used with the English Brown-Bess flintlock musket until about 1800 and with military percussion rifles until 1850. Simple Sights In the 15th century, the first rough, fixed sights appeared in isolated cases. However, front and rear sights did not always appear together. Until the 18th century, rear sights were not seen on smooth bore barrels and sometimes, a small groove or the slot of the breech attachment screw was used. Precision Sights For a precise shooting of guns with rifled barrels, the first moveable front and rear sight designs appeared in the 16th century. Front and rear sights became more precise and were attached to the barrel with a sideways moveable dovetail construction. To aim at varying distances, numerous flip up V-notches, rear sights or peep-sights with different hole arrangements were used from the 18th century on. Pendulum By the beginning of the 18th century, rear sights with adjustable distances, Peep Sight appeared. To avoid canting of the weapon when shooting, peep or V- notch rear sights were often equipped with a pendulum above it. Tube Sight A relatively simple method to aim at an object is to sight through a pipe attached parallel to the barrel . This was the basic idea fore the introduction of the tube sight. Occasionally they appeared on wall guns and later more often on target rifles. For hunting and target rifles, tube sights were often combined with flip up V-notch rear sights or peep sights. Aperture Rear By the 17th century, holed discs called ‘aperture rear sights’ were used on Sight rifles to extend the line of sight. Front sight designs with a small ball and ring were also added. By the middle of the 19th century, in connection with higher projectile velocity and improved accuracy, there was a noticeably rapid development of sights. Fewer new sights were developed, but the quality in accuracy and adjustability improved. The following, gives an overview of the most important sights in muzzle loaders. 172 8. Sights Rear Sights Pictures of Rear Sights Fig. 8 – 1 No Rear Sight Flint lock musket Ca. 1780 France Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 2 Indication of Rear Sight Flint lock musket Ca. 1740 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig 8 – 3 Screw Slot Cavalry percussion pistol M. 1822 France Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 4 V-Type Rear Sight integrated in Breach Plug Percussion rifle M. 1842 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Rear Sights 8. Sights 173 Fig. 8 – 5 Rear Sight with U-Notch integrated in the Barrel Percussion rifle Ca. 1880 Afghanistan Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 6 V-Type Rear Sight fixed to Barrel with Dovetail- Notch, Early Version Tinder lock musket Ca. 1514 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 7 V-Type Rear Sight fixed to Barrel with Dovetail- Notch, Late Version Boys target rifle Ca. 1800 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 8 Attached later V-Type Bracket Rear Sight Hunting rifle Ca. 1700 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe 174 8. Sights Rear Sights Fig. 8 – 9 Integrated Cast Tunnel Rear Sight Double arquebus with match lock Ca. 1500 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 10 Tunnel Rear Sight with Hinged Peep Sight Heavy target rifle Ca. 1700 Hans Rudolf Boller, Zurich Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 11 Hinged Triple Rear Sight Sharp shooter rifle M. 1769 Austria Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 12 Hinged V-Type Rear Sight Rococo target rifle Ca. 1760 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Rear Sights 8. Sights 175 Fig. 8 – 13 Adjustable V-Type Rear Sight Percussion rifle Ca. 1795 J. Fiedler, Augsburg Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 14 Adjustable Peep Rear Sight Percussion target rifle Ca. 1860 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 15 Pendulum Peep Rear Sight Heavy target rifle ca. 1850 L. Bindschedler, Männedorf, Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 16 Pendulum Peep Rear Sight Percussion target rifle Ca. 1837 A. Aschwanden, Altdorf Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe 176 8. Sights Rear Sights Fig. 8 – 17 Lute Rear Sight Percussion carbine M. 1859 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 18 Adjustable Rear Sight Vetterli repeater M. 1869 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 19 Adjustable Rear Sight Vetterli target rifle M. 1871 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 20 Adjustable Rear Sight Vetterli repeater and Vetterli target rifle M. 1878 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Rear Sights 8. Sights 177 Fig. 8 – 21 Adjustable Rear Sight Percussion carbine M. 1859 France Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 22 Aperture Rear Sight Wheel lock target rifle Ca. 1750 Germany Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 23 Aperture Rear Sight Martini target rifle Ca. 1880 Germany Private Collection Photo: KuPe 178 8. Sights Front Sights Pictures of Front Sights Fig. 8 – 24 No Front Sight Flint lock carbine Ca. 1740 France Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 25 Fixed Front Sight Tinder lock musket Ca. 1500 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 26 Fixed Front Sight Flint lock musket Ca. 1600 Hans Conrad Goetz, Zurich Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 27 Fixed Long Front Sight Berber long arm Ca. 1800 North Africa Private Collection Photo: KuPe Front Sights 8. Sights 179 Fig. 8 – 28 Fixed Bead Front Sight on Barrel in the Opening of the Barrel Band Cadet percussion rifle M. 1842 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 29 Fixed Bead Front Sight on Rear Bridge of the Front Barrel Band Infantry carbine M. 1817 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 30 Fixed Bead Front Sight at Front Bridge of Barrel Band Infantery carbine M. 1754 Austria Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 31 Moveable Brass Front Sight Sharp shooter rifle M. 1769 Austria Private Collection Photo: KuPe 180 8. Sights Front Sights Fig. 8 – 32 Moveable Pin Front Sight Rococo target rifle Ca. 1760 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 33 Moveable Front Sight Parlor target rifle Ca. 1900 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 34 Adjustable Front Sight Percussion target rifle Ca. 1850 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe Fig. 8 – 35 Globe Front Sight, Sideways adjustable Percussion target rifle Ca. 1870 Switzerland Private Collection Photo: KuPe.

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