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MerwinBray
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German rifle sight key help
Aug 26th, 2023 at 8:05pm
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I have a German martini, and while it came with the sights, it did not come with a sight key. 
Is my best bet a very small socket with the screwdriver hand piece? I’m not sure where to finish nd something like this. 
Jon
  

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buchsenmacher
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #1 - Aug 26th, 2023 at 8:08pm
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When I made a set of German style sights years ago, I used a clock key that I got off of Ebay.
  

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wcf3840
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #2 - Aug 26th, 2023 at 9:06pm
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I just got a clock key off Amazon. Quick and reasonably priced.
  
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MrTipUp
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #3 - Aug 26th, 2023 at 9:13pm
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A clock key (or two, depending) is what you want.  Measure the square stud(s), convert to mm if necessary, and you should be able to find a matching key from several internet sources.  Older jewelry stores or clock repair shops also often have them or can get one for you.

Bill Lawrence
  
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MerwinBray
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #4 - Aug 26th, 2023 at 9:34pm
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That is a great idea!!! Thank you all.
  

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MerwinBray
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #5 - Aug 26th, 2023 at 9:41pm
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I found a 22 size set for a reasonable price on Amazon. The key head looks a little wide to clear my eye cup but I have a band saw. Problem solved. Thank you all
  

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Kurt_701
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #6 - Aug 26th, 2023 at 10:23pm
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Local lock shop may have clock keys.
  

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MerwinBray
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #7 - Aug 29th, 2023 at 7:43pm
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The brass clock key set got here yesterday and there are two that fit the two different sized heads. To the range tomorrow! ……with a little luck! 
Thank you all again for the suggestions
  

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Smoke
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #8 - Aug 29th, 2023 at 10:15pm
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Amazon and other clock shops sell a set of two of these keys, and they cover every size I've ever run into (sometimes better than others, but I digress).
  
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MrTipUp
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #9 - Aug 30th, 2023 at 6:31am
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Very often a clock key's "handle is big enough to allow mounting another "socket".  If yours is so, unrivet the "socket" from your second key, rerivet it to the first, and voila you have only one key to keep track of.

Bill Lawrence
  
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #10 - Aug 30th, 2023 at 9:12am
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Being a glutton for punishment I made a T-handle sight key once, for the only German target rifle I ever owned. Bored a hole in a piece of round stock and whittled it square with jewelers files, then drilled a cross-hole for a pin handle. Should another such rifle fall into my lap I shan't do that again.
  
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #11 - Aug 30th, 2023 at 11:14am
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Smoke wrote on Aug 29th, 2023 at 10:15pm:
Amazon and other clock shops sell a set of two of these keys, and they cover every size I've ever run into (sometimes better than others, but I digress).

I also have a set of these. I have several German rifles with tang sights, so far these work fine. If you are not worried about looks, I have made several by boring a round hole, heating to cherry and driving in the square tail of a rat tail file until it is the correct size, then sawing a slot in the other end and silver soldering a large washer handle. Ugly but effective.
Mike
  
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #12 - Aug 31st, 2023 at 8:31am
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I made this one, lots of milling, sanding, swaging etc. No more effective than a simple clock key, but way nicer looking.
  
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MrTipUp
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #13 - Aug 31st, 2023 at 8:18pm
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That's a very elegant key, 40-65tom; far nicer than almost all the originals I've seen.  Well done!

Bill Lawrence
  
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Re: German rifle sight key help
Reply #14 - Sep 1st, 2023 at 1:16pm
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You don't have to have a 4 cornered socket for a wrench.

I made this one, for mine, 30 some years ago from a smaller clock key.
  

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