Tang sight on Henry

[The Swede]

2 questions for you all. Has anyone put a tang sight on a henry? Also, with the 2 screw holes on the tang already would the sight fit with them, or do new holes need to be drilled?

Sorry, a third question... Would it be historically accurate?

Swede

[matt45]

Not being the thorough expert but...
I've never seen a tang sight on a Henry- and I'm pretty sure that Sword's and Quick's books does not show any pictures of one w/ tang sights.
     Having said that, there very well could have been a retro fit at some time or the other.

[PJ Hardtack]

The Madis book makes no mention and has no pictures of a tang sight on a Henry. But so what? It's your rifle. It does show one with a Malcolm telescope, though.
"The Age of the Gunfighter" by J.G. Rosa has several good pics of original Henry's, none of them equipped with tang sights.

A friend just put a Marble's tang sight on his Henry. I'll ask him to post the details.

[Will Ketchum]

Since there were tang sights available one could be put on a Henry.  If you want it for CAS I am not a fan of tang sights for competition because too much can go wrong.  I have found that a full buckhorn type sight is faster and more dependable. I have them on all my CAS rifles and use them like a ghost ring.  The one I most recommend and the one I use

  http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/877/1/RS-PM-1

Will Ketchum

[Yeso Bill]

Whoops, I see that P.J. and Will are posting while I'm pecking.

Here is what I've got.  By the way, I'm with P.J. on this, "so what?"    For competition, the sight will easily fold down or maybe better yet, come off. 

In THE WINCHESTER BOOK, Madis shows no pictures of tang sighted Henry's.  However on pages 92 & 93 there are three tang sighted 66s.  He states that the 1st patented Lyman sights are marked 1879 and that "special sights on any Winchester are rare, especially the 66".  (That is in the 66 chapter.) 

That said, I just installed a Marbles Tang Sight on my Henry.  You will have to buy the screw kit separately and drill the second hole.  The Henry screw kit comes with the rear screw too long and the front screw is a wood screw which will enter the stock within a 1/16" of the front.  Not liking that, I ordered the 66 screw kit which has a shorter rear screw and a short 10 x 32 front screw, drilled, tapped and mounted it yesterday.

It looks like Marbles came along with their sights about 1892 and I went with it instead of the earlier Lyman because the Lyman has no windage adjustment and the Henry has no front sight windage adjustment.   

The sight really tightened up my groups and I have shot it once with a resulting 5 shot group measuring .626" @ 40 yards. - 36 gr. Swiss #2 and Accurate 215 weighing 221gr.

Billy

[PJ Hardtack]

I see a lot of tang sights in use at CAS events and for shooting large targets at 25 yds or less, I wonder why ..... ? However, not haven't tried it, my opinion lacks validity.

I grew up in the pre-scope era when a receiver peep sight was all the rage on Winchester 94's, M70's and other hunting rifles. Townsend Whelan was a big proponent. He advocated using the insert for long shots and removing it for snap shooting at closer range.

My wife's Marlin 39 has the classic side mounted receiver sight and she loves it! She doesn't use the insert.

[Yeso Bill]

P.S.  My rifle only had one screw in the upper tang.  P.J. just said his has two.  I will be glad to pull the sight off and measure it for you.

Billy

[Blair]

Most here are Cowboy Action Shooters.
Does Historical authenticity/correctness really matter all that much?
IMHO... not much! I am very sorry to say.
Ask yourself what you want out of this sport. Then do what you want... and go for that. Forget all the other BS!
Blair

[Will Ketchum]

Most here are Cowboy Action Shooters.
Does Historical authenticity/correctness really matter all that much?
IMHO... not much! I am very sorry to say.
Ask yourself what you want out of this sport. Then do what you want... and go for that. Forget all the other BS!
Blair

For SASS no but for NCOWS yes.  For our game I see no advantage of a tang sight over a full buckhorn and several disadvantages.

Will Ketchum

[Blair]

Will,
Thanks, you understand the point I was wishing to make
My best,
Blair

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I put the Track of the Wolf sight that Will recommends on my Henry. I like it a lot better than the stock ladder sight that comes on the rifle.

[matt45]

That's the sight I put on mine, and I like it a lot better than the stock (old eyes).
     Driftwood, did you square up the notch on your sight?

[The Swede]

Wow lots of great responses here fellas! I through the "historical" bit as I personally love the History that goes with our sport. There is no NCOWS up here in the Dominion Of Canada that I am aware of. I am asking because my close vision decided to move farther, and farther away!
I used aperture sights during my time in the Army. C1A1 rifles (FN-FAL) at first, later C7s (M16). My Henry has 2 screws in the tang, so I was curious as to whether or not it would be simple to attach a tang sight.

The idea of using the sight from Track Of The Wolf is a good idea as well, I am more interested in a tang sight personally.

Swede

[Driftwood Johnson]

Driftwood, did you square up the notch on your sight?

Yeah, I did a little bit of filing on the sight. Truth be told, the casting was kind of rough. Not as nicely finished as a sight from Marbles, but a Marbles sight is too long. I did some filing on it to smooth it up a bit, and make it symmetrical. The dovetail was a little bit small for the dovetail in the Henry, I had to shim it from underneath to get it to fit without slipping. I am always very careful of the sight at the loading table when loading the rifle, I never place the sight on the table, I always hang it over the edge of the table. I don't think it would survive a strong blow.

Regarding tang sights, my Henry only has one screw on the top of the tang, all the way at the back. If I wanted to put a tang sight on I would need to drill and tap another hole, and the existing screw would not be long enough to go through the tang sight and the tang. The screw extends all the way to the bottom tang. This screw and  a wood screw on the bottom tang are what holds the stock on the rifle.

[cactus joe]

I did as yeso did, put a marbles on. I don't compete in any completion, but the site helps my eyes focus better, and I like having a windage adjustment. Yes it had to be drilled a taped as others have said.

[The Swede]

Regarding tang sights, my Henry only has one screw on the top of the tang, all the way at the back. If I wanted to put a tang sight on I would need to drill and tap another hole, and the existing screw would not be long enough to go through the tang sight and the tang. The screw extends all the way to the bottom tang. This screw and  a wood screw on the bottom tang are what holds the stock on the rifle.

I guess what I am asking is whether the tang sight would fit my Uberti Henry as it has 2 screws in the tang, and without drilling?

Mine is a few years older...

Swede

[Yeso Bill]

Ill measure that base late this afternoon.

Billy

[Blair]

Once you have done the measuring, you may want to see if you can find an original Henry with a tang sight.
Only "one" will do. Even if it is aftermarket.
One should satisfy a couple of hundred for the modern CAS/SASS gamers.
On the other hand, If you can't find even just "one"... then leave it alone?
Just a thought.
Blair

[PJ Hardtack]

So there you have it, Swede.

Forget that it's YOUR rifle and satisfy the SASS herd.

[Blair]

PJ,

No!
What I am saying is "satisfy" historical fact first.
Then no one needs to try to justify a want-to-make believe "wish-upon-a star" fantasy.
Who knows, it may save an individual some money in the long run?
Blair