Soldering on front sights Ideas/ help

[Rebel Dave]

Hello

What is the way you use to hold the front sight, in the correct location, while you silver solder it in place, ???. I find this the most cumbersome of all the work when installing front sights, on muskets and carbines. At present I use an old metal clamp. If I don't use the clamp, the torch will blow the sight off the bbl, and micro, or pensil torches don't get hot enough. Same with bayonette lugs. I need some Of you-alls ideas, and help/input on this.

Thanks Rebel Dave aka Dave C.

[Southron Sr.]

1. I cut a dovetail in the barrel.
2. I mill out a front sight that will conform to N-SSA Regs.
(While on the mill, I flip the sight over and mill a small slot in the bottom of the base. I fill that slot with pieces of silver solder and flux. Then I install the sight on the barrel.)
3. I "Sight In" the musket "Off the Bench" by tapping the front sight back and forth in the dovetail to ""Zero" the windage. Elevation is accomplished by filing down the sight.
4. After that is done, I hit the sight base with a propane torch until it goes Cherry Red."

PRESTO! The front sight is soldered on per N-SSA regs.

If you don't have access to a mill, a gunsmith or machinist could do the work for you. I have found this the BEST way to go when sighting in a musket.

GOOD LUCK!