Sharps NM 1859 front sight

[Peter]

I need advice on how to replace the blade in my front sight. My current sight is down to nothing and it has a pinned steel blade. I want to replace it but am nervous about damaging the bond between the sight base and the barrel. Can anyone give me advice on how to proceed with this and what might be the possibility of knocking off the base when I drive the pin out?
Thanks, Pete Chandler

[bobanderson]

I'd use/make a bench block to support the base while I drive the pin. Or, drill the pin and use a larger one for the new blade.

[Maillemaker]

I replaced the front sight on my Pedersoli P1859 Sharps. It is quite simple - the pin holds the sight in place. I bought some German Silver (Nickle Silver) from onlinemetals.com, and used it to fashion a new sight blade. I used the old sight plate to lay on top of my piece of German Silver, and then I used the old sight as a template to trace onto the German Silver. Then I carefully carved it to shape with a Dremel tool. It's OK if you screw up the first couple - a $2 piece of German Silver will be enough to make a dozen sights. . Then drill the hole for the pin in the new blade, and pin it back in place. Be sure to support the sight base when driving the pin in and out so you don't knock it off the barrel.

https://i.imgur.com/D62XLXtl.jpg




0.062" 18 NICKEL SILVER SHEET CDA770 - 1" x 6"



$2.16




https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=12533&step=4&showunits=inches&id=904&top_cat=0

Steve

[ewmail15]

I had posted a thread on civilwartalk.com about my NM1859 Sharps carbine restoration. Page six of the linked thread has info on my efforts to fabricate and install a new vertical sight piece into the front sight lug.

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/learned-im-new-owner-of-a-c-sharps-1863-carbine.138638/page-6#post-1700244

Eric