"Sort of" period looking scope options

[Greg_E]

Appreciate the understanding!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I never heard of a telescopic sight made in 1776: do you know who or where it was made? When scopes were fitted to to target rifles after 1840 the danger of eye injury was very real especially as the rifles got larger and more powerful.

Charles Wilson Peale, the portrait artist was the chap...
Riffle with a Telescope to it

LD

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Charles Wilson Peale, the portrait artist was the chap...
Riffle with a Telescope to it

Charles Wilson Peale, the portrait artist was the chap...
Riffle with a Telescope to it

LD

Cool! Thanks!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

To elaborate on the original question, here's my train of thought... it's not so much a question of whether or not to install a scope, I have a Lyman trade rifle with a modern scope already on it. The scope works fine, but in my opinion it looks weird and out of place on the rifle. So it's a question of whether to remove the mount and plug the holes, or install a scope that, while it might not be actually "period", will fit the lines of the rifle a little better.

In no way is it going to be original or authentic, but I think it would look better on the gun.

OK so your question is one of aesthetics. The answer then is simple, do what you want and can afford. It doesn't get any harder than that, eh?

For The Record....

We fudge as well on "peep" sights...,

These are modern peep sights on traditional muzzleloaders, but they are tougher to "see" on the rifle from a distance, so folks let them pass.

Here's what I use on my trade guns:

And here's an actual peep sight from a gun, circa 1780:

LD

 

[Greg_E]

One should note that some states do not allow scopes during their muzzle loading or "primative" weapons periods, some states also apply this to modern day inline weapons.

 

[ohiochuck]

goggle Toby Bridges and see some of the scopes he has used on traditional MLs

 

[nkbj]

From a painting by W Homer Esq. - an illustration of a Confederate sharpshooter, often cited...

View attachment 172995

Oh my gosh, that looks like an out take from a color print in a book I once found in an Alabama charity resale shop for the benefit of unwed mothers. The beautifully bound book had been written by a Confederate General. When I opened it the riflemen up in the trees was the first amazing picture I saw and I knew I had to purchase it. The Confederate snipers were outfitted in green uniforms and that made me go oh wow right there. Years later I gave the book to a museum in southeast Texas and certainly hope they put it to some use other than a door stop.