Those rascally 1898 sights.

[butlersrangers]

Short-lived and unloved, Lt. Tracy C. Dickson's, '3-notch', model 1898rear-sight crashed and burned.

Its three sighting 'notches' were confusing and unpopular.
(The outside notches, btw, were to compensate for strong cross-winds).

The low 'elevation-ramp' of the 1898 sight-base was designed for an improved, higher velocity, 2,200 f.p.s. (220 grain) Krag round.
That ammo was introduced in 1898, but, soon was pulled from service, due to bolt lugs cracking.

Most model 1898 sight-bases, with the low elevation-ramp and complicated leaf spring, were likely sold or auctioned as scrap.
(The later 1902 sights were for the 2,000 f.p.s. ammo. A higher elevation-ramp was required).

But, the model 1898 sight-leaf and eye-piece, were kept in reserve, and like the Phoenix, rose from the ashes.
(The rejected bases lurked in private hands to later cause mischief)!

The 1898 leaf was recycled by adding serrations on the left side.
Both rifle and carbine eye-pieces had their square corners and outside "V" notches 'rounded' to re-purpose them as 1902 sight eyepieces.

With surplus parts floating around and a degree of interchangeable components, some bogus & outright fake sights have been created.

Also, there are some legitimate rare survivors.

Key things to know: 1898 rifle and carbine eyepieces are different from each other, (in addition to the "C").

The three rifle "V" notches are slightly off-set to the right.

By contrast, the carbine middle "V" notch is centered on the eye-piece; the two outside notches are equidistant from their respective edges.

Attachments:

1. A legitimate 1898 carbine sight.

2. A bogus sight, made from an 1898 rifle sight. The "C" is wrong and the rifle notches are marked to show slight offset to the right.

3. Two rifle leafs, one of which, has been falsely marked. (Note disruption of metal by the "C" stamp).

As first manufactured, there were no left-side serrations on the 1898 leaf and no vent/guide hole on the left-end of the slide.

[butlersrangers]

An example of an altered model 1898 rifle leaf and eye-piece. These parts were altered at Springfield and became a variant of the model 1902 sight. (Note center notch and ground outside notches are slightly offset to right).

Mallory reports 110,000 model 1898 rifle sights were converted to 1902 pattern in 1903-04.
(The conversion would only have re-used the leaf and eye-piece assemblies. The bases had to be new, since, model 1902 sight-bases were taller and had a different spring arrangement).

Note - U.S. Krag rifles showed a significant bullet deviation to the Left upon leaving the muzzle, out to 1,100 yards, at which point, the actual bullet drift (to the right) brought the projectile back to and across the center-line. Beyond 1,100 yards the projectile continued to the right.

This bullet deviation was the reason rifle sight notches were offset to the right of the eyepiece index marks. (It was not for normal bullet rotational drift).

Carbines did not show this same deviation, so carbine sights had their notches centered and symmetrical.

[butlersrangers]

Grandpa's Gun Parts has this interesting 'altered' 1898 carbine eye-piece on their website. (Check KCA Classifieds).

Mallory reports 35,000 model 1898 carbine sights were 'altered' to 1902 sight configuration. (Once again, this would have only involved the leaf & eyepiece assemblies. The 1898 style bases had become useless to the U.S. Ordnance Dept).

I trust this vendor, very much, and the eyepiece likely was identified by his grandfather, the late Joe DeChristopher.
These men have seen more U.S. gun-parts, than I ever will, and Joe certainly knew his stuff.

But, FWIW, I don't think this part was ever a model 1898 carbine-sight eye-piece.
The "C" on this eye-piece looks very large and irregular.
On checking the center "V" notch and the outside notches, they appear offset, to the right.

I believe this sight was a rifle eye-piece, that someone has stamped or engraved with an incorrect "C".

Even a very knowledgeable expert likely gets fooled, once in a while.

[King carp]

Thanks for the tutorial. Great info to file away for reference.

[psteinmayer]

Amazing information from one of the most knowledgeable guys I know! Thanks Chuck!