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bohemianway
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Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Jan 1st, 2014 at 10:27pm
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When I find my copy of Grant's 1st and 2nd books I will post pictures from them showing a Creedmore tip-up Wesson S/N 5 shown with sights. I would like to find out what brand of sights these are since they have been removed by a PO and I do not know where they are. I currently have a Zika front and POS tang but would like to get it to a period correct state.

Note: many of the guns in Grant's books were sold off in the late 1980's in the Detroit area in case someone is familiar with what happened.

Thank you,
Charles
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #1 - Jan 1st, 2014 at 11:43pm
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My one and only Frank Wesson has a simple Lyman Rocky Mountain front blade, and a midrange vernier on the rear. The vernier base is the same spacing as Marlin used on Ballards and repeaters. Haven't seen enough Wessons to determine what the norm was.
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #2 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 9:55am
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Just a suggestion. you might consider contacting Steve Earle.  In his research to replicate the 2 Wesson actions he has done so far he borrowed and/or studied measured photographed almost every available F. Wesson he possibly could.   
He might have sight info as collateral info or might be able to refer you to other Wesson specialists
  
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ssrifles
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #3 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 10:20am
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i have a few of the frank wesson long range tang sights.the man that was the driving force behind the frank wesson books had some made for a few guns he had and i have the rest.they are exact copies of the original.the machinist that made these has made parts for the mars rover(he's an amazing machinist)i have blued,ready to mount and in the white ready to age to your gun. the blued are1000.00 the nonblued are 900.00.contact me if interested.
             tony <><
  
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40_Rod
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #4 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 12:34pm
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I just looked up a few photos that I have of a high-grade Wesson mid-range that sold a few years ago. The front sight was a hooded sight that had very narrow hood. It was about the size of a combination sight but solid. The vernier sight looked a lot like a Ballard midrange staff with a unique leaf spring arrangement at the base.

40 Rod
  
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bohemianway
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #5 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 1:26pm
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The rifle did not have any provisions for a tang mounted sight (even thought the picture in Grant's book shows one). It does however have two screw holes in the heel. It also has a slot in the 32" barrel toward the rear that looked like  a PO modification. It is a .437 bore X 2.6" Case (basically a 444 stretch). I load it with .43 spanish bullets and it gets your attention when you touch one off.
  
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Jeff_Schultz
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #6 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 2:12pm
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Here:
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bohemianway
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #7 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 3:53pm
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I do not think the #1 sights will work. They have an angled base.
  
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bohemianway
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #8 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 3:57pm
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I made a replacement rear tang screw with the added nut to keep the sight off of the stock. The rifle has a neat skeleton butt plate, mat top rib and screwed on lower rib.
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #9 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 5:12pm
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I love skeleton butt-plates   that original or do you have a source for them you can share?
  
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bohemianway
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #10 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 5:16pm
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It's all original except for the sights. I have to make cases from 40-90 basic and lathe turn the bases for proper fit.
  
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shovel80
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #11 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 9:20pm
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Have you got a photo of one of the cases for that rifle?

Thanks, Terry Smiley
  
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bohemianway
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #12 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 9:48pm
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The lower case is a fired round. It is made from 45 basic and heavily modified since that case is 2.6" long and 0.475" from base to mouth and the rim had to be reduced in thickness, diameter, and has a radius. After looking at the fired cases I realized that I needed to revise the case due to the chamber being of an everlasting type with 0.018" thick walls. Therefore the true length of the case is 2.25" and I will need to make or have rockymountain make some custom everlasting type. The top case is a 40-90 basic trimmed to 2.25 but the neck thickness is to thin.
  
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bohemianway
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #13 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 10:07pm
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"D" is also described in Grant's second book and it matches my rifle exactly right down to the serial number but as before teh sights are not a match.

Sorry for all the pictures but I was bored,
Charles
  
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Re: Looking for Frank Wesson Sight Info
Reply #14 - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 11:43pm
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The best reference for the Wesson rifles is the three volume set "Frank Wesson Gunmaker" published by Tom Rowe.
Cheers,
Laurie
  
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