Loves me some iron sights! But, actually gonna hunt this year with a scope, then back to irons on different guns.

 

When you say new, is it a new production model? I ask because looking at the skinner front sights, im getting some conflicting info. The ones listed as for 2000 or later models are the 2 screw, 1", and i have a 2018 1894 and i cant get the front sight out yet for an exact measurement of screw spacing, but mine seems to be the .7", meaning i would need the single screw sight. So what year manufacture is your gun, and which front sight did you get?

 

I know what you mean. I run a Skinner rear with the factory front on my 1894c. Works a treat out to 100yds plus. I set the sight through a short picatinny atop the receiver. Sometimes sports an Aimpont micro, but the irons are my favourite.

 

94's look better with iron sights IMHO. Glad you got her sighted in!

 

I think the Skinners look more traditional on a lever, and I still might get them one day.
But I had some Williams sights on hand, and trying to watch my money before moving down to the desert full time, so the Williams will do for now.

 

I have a Williams peep on my 1895 45-70. I hate it. But I need the RPP large loop lever more, so the SS winged sight will have to take a back seat for a while.

 

Just curious as to why you hate the Williams ?

 

A couple of reasons:

It's bulky for what it does, has square sharp corners on the side of the receiver, cantilever mount instead of solidly mounted to the receiver top. It simply isn't as robust as a peep sight mounted to the top of the receiver as the Skinner is. One advantage is that it's far easier to adjust the sights because it has the hash marks.

Like I said, I'll be replacing it with a Skinner Winged rear sight right after I solve the horrendous OEM lever problem (with a RPP version).

 

I dislike Williams as I needed a base for a 5D as mine had stripped threads. Williams said I had to buy a whole unit, base and bridge. No more Williams for me.

Papalote

 

Understandable. I try not to dislike a company, especially one that makes a good product, because of one person dealt with on the phone.
There are some people who answer the phones for a business that need to brush up on their people skills.
I have called Williams in the past for spare parts, etc. and was dealt with in a good manner.

Last week I called and told a guy that I had a FP sight meant for a Model 39 .22, and I wanted to see if I could get whatever different parts I needed so it would work on an 1894. The guy told me I needed a different Aperture holder (top bar), and it would run almost as much as a new sight ($46).
I got to looking at the sight, and without the base, the aperture holder was a much better fit on the 1894 than it ever was on the 39M.
It hung over way too much on each side on the smaller 39 receiver.

Clearly the base thickness was what was different, not the aperture bar. The guy didn't know what he was talking about, just wanted to sell me a new sight.
I machined down the base, and shortened the mounting screws, and now the sight fits the 1894 nicely, much better than it ever fit the 39M.
( see pic above).
Very likely if I had called back and talked to someone different, I would have got a better, or at least different response.

 

I love the Skinner sight that I have on my CBL. I got the full length with the brass insert on mine. The brass contrast really sets it off. I set the front sight height, to be 2 turns up on the rear sight aperture, as I was advised to by Andy@ Skinner. Although scopes on a 1894 are practical, they just detract from the aura of the cowboy rifle.

 

Skinner Williams lyman I like them all. I really like the side mount peeps myself. The Williams FP is a nice one IMO.

 

I ordered the Express Skinner which sit lower on the receiver and hopefully I wont need a taller front sight. Which model did you get?

 

My favorite reciever sights are Lymans. I have Redfields, Redding, Williams and several lesser known makes. I like the models that have
click adjustment knobs. On several of my rifles I actually use the sights to adjust for range while target and varmit shooting. Others I
sight in at given range and never move them. For rifles that are going to be sighted in and don't need to be adjusted the models with
flush adjustment screws are all that's needed. I have Redding reciever sights on a 81 Rem & a Brn A5 shotgun. Both are hump back profiles and sight mounts to face of Hump. These are screw looked models that are 0ed for 100yds and left alone. I usually only scope
B/A rifles and HV single shots. Scoped a 1894, 1895 and Mar 375Win. All three shot in real easy of bench but when I hit the woods with
them they just didn't feel right scoped. They are now back to Reciver sights. I now have Ruger #3s in 375w & 45/70 too and would like
to have a reciever on them but are scoped now because not to many options available for reciver sights exist without D&T the gun. Am
faced with same thing on a Savage 99. Don't want to drill it and all the reciver sights I have seen for 99s are to bulky for my taste.

 

In general, most of the gun industry has very good customer service. I have called both Timney and Millet for replacement parts or screws and they have sent me parts "No charge". I even contacted David Tubbs for some misfires I had from switching to his speed lock firing pin system and he sent me a new firing pin spring to try out. Dillon has always lived up to their "No BS warranty" on a lot of items and parts for my loaders. S&W and Ruger have given me excellent service on pistol rebuilds on guns that I wore out---in one case a gun was rebuilt no charge (I only paid for shipping to them). You could have just got a bad egg or a new guy that was in over his head.

 

.

I have had poor service from only one company...that was Marbles Sight Co. I bought a tang sight for a 336 Marlin. After installation as directed by Marbles the bolt hit the sight when cycled. Hitting the sight post and folding it over making it useless for the second shot. I called Marbles and explained the problem and suggested a fix. Their reply was "Why change that cost money, the sight sells as is so why spend money to modify the sight?". OK, if that's your attitude no more Marbles sights for me.

 

??? Pretty solidly mounted to the receiver side, if not the top.
Not sure which sight you refer to that is a cantilever mount.

Bulky from the left side, but not from the right side and top, and no more "sharp edged" than other brands.
All my edges are rounded, not sharp.
And it is low to the receiver, not needing such a high front sight.

Which Williams are you referring to ?
I like the Skinner, but already had the Williams and didn't have to lay out another $100 plus for a Skinner, and while not as minimalist and traditional looking as the Skinner, I don't feel disadvantaged with the FP.

 

When I bought my .44 magnum 1894 in the '90s, I put a Williams on it, but the front sight was too low, and I didn't care for that block of metal on the left side of the receiver.
Now I have the XS ghost ring/rail on it:

I did this because I love the same setup that came on my new 1894CSBL:

But I might like the Skinner sights better than the XS. My new 1895 Trapper has the Skinners:

I'm just not sure which I prefer: I think I need to take 'em back to the range and shoot 'em all again! :biggrin:

 

I have Skinner sights, rear and front on my Winchester 9422. Love the sight on that rifle, beautiful and accurate. I have Williams FP on my Marlin 39A and Browning BL-22. Williams is my favorite sight. Did not have to change the front sight on either of those rifles. Great sight. I have a new Marlin 1894 CSBL that has the XS rail with the XS ghost sight rear and XS front blade sight. That is also a very good sight and really easy to use. In fact that sight is extremely comfortable to use. That may turn out to be my favorite. This sight is easy to adjust. I have never had the adjusting knobs on either of my Williams sights, usually once I have them set I never need to move them again.

I would rather use peep sights than a scope any day.