World's largest Buffington sight

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Zac952
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Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:37 am

World's largest Buffington sight

Post by Zac952 »

Not sure if it's truly the largest but it is a pretty neat take on the Buffington sight by winchester in the mid 1940s, here is a link to the video
https://youtu.be/-RvpWYBDruE
Scroll to 11 minutes 17 seconds for a upclose demonstration of the sight.
Screenshot_20211126-084653_YouTube.jpg
Screenshot_20211126-084653_YouTube.jpg (59.66 KiB) Viewed 1469 times
Feel free to post any other firearms with a Buffington style sight, interesting that the sighting system went beyond the 1884 Springfield, 1901 Krag and 1903 Springfield

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butlersrangers
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by butlersrangers »

'Zac' - The WAR (Winchester Automatic Rifle) sight, that you posted, definitely has some Buffington design features.

It has some similarity to the rear-sight that Winchester used on their early Model 52 - .22 cal. target rifle.
The elevation-slide 'catch & adjustment-wheel' appears inspired by the device used on the British SMLE rear-sight.
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Win 52 early.jpg
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smle-elevation wheel.jpg (23.93 KiB) Viewed 1460 times

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Parashooter
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by Parashooter »

Ever handled an M79 (grenade launcher)?
M79sight.jpg
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butlersrangers
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by butlersrangers »

General Buffington says: When the rifle barrels get big, put the barrel on the "site bed" and not the "sight bed" on the barrel! (I just made this up).

Ft. MacArthur - San Pedro, California, 14 inch rifle on Buffington-Crozier Disappearing Carriage.
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Buffington.jpg
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Zac952
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by Zac952 »

BR I did think that the sight looked like a 1903/1917 hybrid, but a No1 enfield has the micrometer elevation as you said. The windage adjustment is what really got me thinking Buffington, although it lacks the tangent adjustment on the base.
Now my experience with the m79 is limited to call of duty, lol
I'll have to look up that m79 later on YouTube,
BR that would be one heck of a Buffington sight, likely have to set up a chain hoist to raise and lower the ladder and use another chain hoist to move the elevator up and down, a manual crank to adjust for windage and a well coordinated 3 man team to operate the sight on the fly! Lol

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butlersrangers
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by butlersrangers »

The base of fortification artillery carriages pivot like the base of a Buffington-style (rifle) rear-sights.

Buffington did not invent the pivoting gun carriage. He did seem to draw inspiration from the idea.

Zac952
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by Zac952 »

Something about the Buffington sight just seems distinctively American and gives it much interest to me, tangent mauser sights well useful and likely better battle sights just don't have the same appeal to me. Now for shooting I prefer a peep sight like that found on the m1917 or No4 enfields, I have been shooting my No5 Enfield quite a bit lately after unfortunately selling my 1899 Krag carbine. Just something about a convenient carbine makes them go to the range with me more often even though I prefer the looks of a full rifle.
Someday I'll hopefully pick up a better 1899 carbine, I had an offer to trade my 1899 for a Lee Enfield No5 in very good condition with a almost unused bore plus $800 for my 1899 and I just couldn't pass it up, the 1899s bore was quite on the wore side, taking m2 ball nearly to the crimp groove and it wouldn't group well.
The man I traded was looking for a Collectable wall hanger and didn't care much about the British Enfields,
Luckily for me and uncommon for Enfields the No5 wouldn't close on a .70 field gauge and with the mint bore I think it's nearly unfired, well until iv owned it.

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butlersrangers
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by butlersrangers »

I knew I had seen a sight similar to that "Buffington' inspired rear-sight on that Winchester Automatic Rifle.
It finally came to me!

BTW 'Zac' - I too, have a soft spot for a good shooting carbine.
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Browning M-1917 MG sight.jpg
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carbines-FP1.jpg
carbines-FP1.jpg (250.15 KiB) Viewed 1428 times

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butlersrangers
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by butlersrangers »

Some Colt 'potato diggers' variations appear to wear Buffington style sights.
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Browning m-1895.jpeg
Browning m-1895.jpeg (52.59 KiB) Viewed 1426 times
colt 1895 rear-sight.jpg
colt 1895 rear-sight.jpg (52.71 KiB) Viewed 1426 times

Zac952
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Re: World's largest Buffington sight

Post by Zac952 »

Thanks BR! I'll have another thing yet to watch some videos and do some research on.
That looks like a very good condition No5! And a No5 bayonet to go with it, I need to add a No5 bayonet to my collection.
Is that a Swedish M94? If so I hear the 6x55 Swedish is one soft shooting round, I bet that feeling is definitely noticeable when comparing it to a full house 303 load in the No5.
Not that I thought the No5 was too terrible, but a significant increase compared to my cast 30-40 loads.
Also does your No5 have a milled rear sight or a stamped?
Mine is a RAF 1/45 with a stamped, I have only ever saw 1 other with a stamped, it was a 12/44 RAF, both true No5 sights graduated to 800 yards.

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