Indian head penny front sight?

[Ironbadger]

I read somewhere a long time back that it was a common practice to replace the front sight on colt revolvers with half an indian head penny.

Anyone else know if or heard of this?
I have a badly damaged IH penny that would not be any real sacrifice to use for the purpose, (about a quarter of it is missing).

But I wondered if anyone else had heard of this before I start shaping the penny and prepping my pietta 1860 to solder the sight on.

Thanks.

Badger

[Froogal]

I've not heard of it until now, but I LIKE the idea.

[St. George]

More guys in C&WAS have done this than in the Old West - they even use silver dimes.

For these guys, the date 'has to show, 'cuz that's how they did it 'back then' - except they didn't.

Any gunsmith of the era could make one and it'd look stock.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[45 Dragoon]

I used an 1860 penny on a customer's Army early on and that's the only  sight I've done to date!!  Turned out great but I don't need " it's  too tall, it's too short, it's not straight  .  .  .   That's for somebody else to do  .  .  .

Mike

[Coffinmaker]

  Oh Yea!! 

A BIG PLUS ONE for Da Dragoon you betcha!!!

[Froogal]

Guys, You've got the wheels turning in my head. Maybe use a dremel to cut the groove? And solder to keep it there, or JB Weld?

I've got a percussion revolver that was shortened, therefore NO front sight.

[Coffinmaker]

  Froogal 

I'm sorry.  Never intended to light off yer thought processes.  However, Unless you have a VERY rigid machine to hold that Dremel, I want the Peanut and Popcorn concession when you fire it up 

People Are Hazardous to Yer Health

[Jack Wagon]

Coins do make a great sight replacement when a taller blade is needed. Here is a foreign coin sight for my 1860, chosen because the width was a close fit for the slot in the barrel. Note how tall the replacement was next to oem sight to hit poa at 25 yards. The stock sight is just tapped in. Check you tube for how to videos. After installation you will have to file for windage and elevation which could very likely mess up the Indian head design. If you use a dime like I did on my 1859 Sharps, be aware that after 1964 they are no longer made of silver. The new dime is a sandwich of nickel with a copper center.  Jw

[45 Dragoon]

Here's  the 1860 sight.

Mike

[Ironbadger]

Well, the date is the part thats missing on my old penny...

Kind of reluctant to destroy a good/decent condition indian head penny when I have most of a damaged one that won't bother me to repurpose.
You can find them on ebay in various conditions and dates for a buck to 5 bucks all day, after all.

I want taller sights on a couple cartridge conversions I been working on.
So I remembered this and thought it'd be rather cool to do.

I've been a custom knifemaker since the early 80s, so I have an extensive collection of tools and decades of experience. 

Badger

More guys in C&WAS have done this than in the Old West - they even use silver dimes.

For these guys, the date 'has to show, 'cuz that's how they did it 'back then' - except they didn't.

Any gunsmith of the era could make one and it'd look stock.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Ironbadger]

Very nice, Dragoon!
My penny is missing around a quarter of its metal, and the top above the feather headdress is in good shape.
I never knew the date might matter, and since the date is missing anyway, I was just planning to cut it down and use the good part.

To me, its just a convenient solution to a problem that would look cool when I am done.

Think I'll go for it for my own satisfaction, verified period or not. 

Badger

Here's  the 1860 sight.

Mike

[Ironbadger]

An end mill would work best.
If you do not have an end mill, theres tricks you can do with a drill press to make a slot, if you have enough experience.

A dremel would really require a jig of some kind to ensure you do not slip and scar the barrel.

Silver solder is the way to go to secure the sight.
I've been silver soldering for over 40 years, so I'll go with what I know.

Badger

Guys, You've got the wheels turning in my head. Maybe use a dremel to cut the groove? And solder to keep it there, or JB Weld?

I've got a percussion revolver that was shortened, therefore NO front sight.

[Major 2]

Like Mr. Jack Wagon, I replaced the front sight on (in my case) 63 Sharps.
The mount is like his 1859 though...I actually use a silver dime, but it was so worn no date was apparent.
It was in an old leather change snapper purse, with many 19ths. century coins including 1/2 penny's,
Indian heads & 1/2 dollars including a Stone Mountain 1/2 an several Morgan Silver dollars.
It was cut and slipped right in and staked, bad news was it was later lost as well:      

I still have that purse & the other coins    sadly not the Sharps 

[Froogal]

An end mill would work best.
If you do not have an end mill, theres tricks you can do with a drill press to make a slot, if you have enough experience.

A dremel would really require a jig of some kind to ensure you do not slip and scar the barrel.

Silver solder is the way to go to secure the sight.
I've been silver soldering for over 40 years, so I'll go with what I know.

Badger

I do have machining experience, but I do not own, or have access to any machining equipment. I'm pretty sure that just free-handing the dremel would have less than desirable results, so for now, that old revolver will remain in the safe.

[Abilene]

When I got my '92 it had a penny (not old) for a front sight.  It wobbled around.  Replaced it with half of a French half-franc.  So I guess it's a quarter-franc now.