(2) Spencer Sight Information & Suggestions

[Two Flints]

Spencer Sight Information & Suggestions

[This might sound like sacrilege to some but has anybody found a replacement sight for the rear on the Taylor's Spencer? I'm not really impressed with the quality of this piece from Armi-Sport and would like to find something else. Maybe something similar to what you would see on a Marlin lever gun or a Lyman peep sight.]   By Wagon Wheel

[Buffalo Arms has the Smith Enterprises after market replacement sights. You need to get the proper size dovetail. There are a couple of models that will work on the Spencer. Their website is   www.buffaloarms.com.]   By Wagon Wheel

[replacing the rear sight on a spencer with anything other than the same style will make the carbine ineligible for nssa competition. have you considered a merit optical? this is acceptable in nssa competitions.]    By geo

[Dovetail on my Spencer is 0.436". Looks like I'll have to do a bit of looking to find a suitable replacement sight, or get a Smith Enterprises sight & make my own base. Unless Buffalo Arms has the correct base.]   By Backstrap Bill

[Wagon Wheel,If it's the sight notch on the rear sight that's the problem, I had the same problem also. Some of Taylor's earlier guns had one of the worst rear sight notches that you can imagine. I bought a replacement sight leaf from Taylor's as I was going to modify the one that came with the rifle and wanted an original to put on if needed. When the new one came it had a completly different shaped notch and has worked quite well for me. You might try this before you start making special bases and all. The new leaf doesn't cost very much and it is listed in the parts list that came with the rifle.]   By Hell-er-High Water

[Buffalo Arms has the Smith Enterprise rear sights with a .450 dovetail base. It is no problem to enlarge the slot to accept this base.  If you are going to shoot in NSSA, you can put on a plain blade rear made to fit the original dovetail. This will give you a fixed sight with no elevation adjustment. No loss, in my estimation, as the ones that come on the Taylors have no useable adjustment anyway-- the elevator has no detent to hold it in place. Since I was not going to use the factory OEm sight as it had about .030 slop in the blade, I made my own which has a screw adjustment for windage. No elevation adjustment, but I have the correct height to work up to about 75 yards with no holdover. I may replace it eventually with one that is drift adjustable for windage, but due to the thickness of the butt stock, I have to offset the rear quite a bit. It would look pretty funky with it drifted to one side that much.]  By French Jack

[Buffalo Arms has sight bases at 7/16 (0.44") and another at 0.45". Since the factory rear sight on my Spencer is not snug @ .436", I ordered the buckhorn/ladder sight w/the 0.45" base. It may not be "period" but at least I'll be able to get a good sight picture on Mr. Whitetail this fall.  I have a safe file for cutting dovetails. Rather than cut the slot wider, though, I prefer to cut down the sight base. I find it easier to replace a sight base than a barrel that ends up with an over-size dovetail slot. By leaving the slot in the barrel alone, I'll be able to push the factory sight back in place when I play NCOWS.  I'll let all ya'll know just how this turns out.]  By Backstrap Bill

[Received my new rear sight from Buffalo Arms Co. It is the excellent Smith Enterprises buckhorn ladder sight on a base with a .450" dovetail. Much better sight picture and ladder sight adjustments..If you haven't seen or owned one of the Smith Enterprises, you are missing a great sight.  My dovetail slot measures about 0.436". I have a safe file for cutting dovetails. I'll cut down the dovetail on the sight base rather than enlarge the dovetail slot in the barrel. That way, I will be able to install the factory rear sight again should I ever get involved with the re-enactment crowd.]   By Backstrap Bill



[Received my new rear sight from Buffalo Arms Co. It is the excellent Smith Enterprises buckhorn ladder sight on a base with a .450" dovetail. Much better sight picture and ladder sight adjustments..If you haven't seen or owned one of the Smith Enterprises, you are missing a great sight.  My dovetail slot measures about 0.436". I have a safe file for cutting dovetails. I'll cut down the dovetail on the sight base rather than enlarge the dovetail slot in the barrel. That way, I will be able to install the factory rear sight again should I ever get involved with the re-enactment crowd.  I installed the Buffalo Arms sight. Now, I have a real sight picture. I was able to shoot 3-4" groups @ 100 yards on a windy day & without having worked on the trigger pull yet. One more thing about the Smith Enterprises combination buckhorn/ladder sight. The gun still hits about 10" high @ 100 yards. I will have to deepen the notch in the rear sight to get a point blank 100 yard sight picture using a bottom hold.]   By Backstrap Bill