Fiber Optics on Flintlock

Pardon me if his is heresy; I am about to receive a new .54 Southern Rifle from TVM (my seventh TVM product). As this is a dedicated hunting rifle, I am looking at putting Fiber Optic sights on it. Has anyone done this with a traditional octagon barreled flintlock? I would especially like a peep rear and bead front. Suggestions?

ADK Bigfoot

It looks like you just missed a set for sale in the classifieds here...

My dedicated .58 flint lock (Renegade) has a fiber optic front site and a Skinner Peep rear sight. My eyes are not what the used to be, but i still like venison, so I need some help, especially in the early dawn or evening twilight.

I installed Lyman Fiber Optics on my GPR that I use for hunting. Not Period Correct, but it's what works for my vision.

I would be most interested in input from those who have installed or modified/installed fiber optic sights on to traditional (non-factory) flintlocks. I know this is a needle in a haystack, but someone must have done it before me. Drill and tap? Fit to existing dovetails? Ideas?

ADK Bigfoot

Google Marbles sights..

I think I saw some there that were dove tailed, in various sizes.

Seems like they’re have peeps as well.

Luckily I can still see my German silver one I installed on my rifle last Summer.

I have a Renegade with a hi viz front sight, took it in on a trade.

If memory serves, it is screw mounted...

You can buy any kind of dovetail fiber optic sight from Midway, I bought a tall front to fit a TC I have because it shot so high with a patched ball.

My eyes have gotten so bad I can hardly shoot my flintlocks anymore, the sights are a blur. I bought a bottle of high viz paint to put on the front sight of my Beck rifle, this stuff glows in the dark. I haven't tried it out yet in the woods at dusk.

Cataract surgery is just around the corner for me, I am looking forward to it.

https://williamsgunsight.com/product/firesight-rifle-beads-wide-widths/

I have one of these on my Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken. Various heights to choose from.

I can't bring myself to put one of these on my custom traditional flintlocks, but when it comes to quick aiming in hunting conditions, other than a scope, this combined with a peep are deadly.

Thanks for the leads. I just got a wide fire sight from Williams, and I will try to fit it to my front dovetail when the rifle arrives next week. Not sure what to do about a rear peep. I hate to drill and tap this rifle, and the rear sight may be too far forward for a peep to work well. I will try it with the fire sight front and the traditional rear to see if it works in the woods.

Any other input is welcome.

ADK Bigfoot

ADK Bigfoot said:

Thanks for the leads. I just got a wide fire sight from Williams, and I will try to fit it to my front dovetail when the rifle arrives next week. Not sure what to do about a rear peep. I hate to drill and tap this rifle, and the rear sight may be too far forward for a peep to work well. I will try it with the fire sight front and the traditional rear to see if it works in the woods.

Any other input is welcome.

ADK Bigfoot

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The Marbles Bullseye long shank will move a peep back closer to the tang.
I have several mounted now and they work great!

May want to try a Marble’ Bullseye sight. Have them on a few guns and they work surprisingly well.


$20 at Midway. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1828132532

Appears Grizz44 posted the same suggestion for the Marble’s sight while I was typing.

SDSmlf said:

Appears Grizz44 posted the same suggestion for the Marble’s sight while I was typing.

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Then there are 2 great minds that think alike!
Did you polish that one on the round barrel? It looks good on that gun.

Griz44Mag said:

Then there are 2 great minds that think alike!
Did you polish that one on the round barrel? It looks good on that gun.

Click to expand...

No, that’s the factory finish on the sight. If it wasn’t so bright and new looking it wouldn’t be all that noticeable on the gun, at least to me. Don’t believe anyone has noticed it unless I pointed it out.

My god awful T/C Hawken had a fiber optic front sight. Pulled it up to my shoulder one day to fire it and the fiber was gone. (insert expletive here)

I fit a set on a .54 I built some years ago. I modified to rear base to fit my swamped barrel and made a T nut to mount it to the rear dovetail. I modified the front sight also, again I made a T nut to mount it to the front dovetail.
The rear sight ended up being too flimsey and moved left to right too easily. This was not my mods but the setscrew from the factory would slide and allow the blade to move. Also the design of the rear sight blocked off too much of the body of the animal.
And lastly, it made the rifle look like dogXXXX! And I couldn't wait to get it off.