early Rock Island rear sight

[RCS]

Years ago I bought Rock island serial number 64195 with a RIA 3-07 dated barrel, the finish looks
to be original. Also put together s/n 3670 which came from the CMP auction, parts are mixed on
the four digit but pre WW1. I found a early RIA rear sight at a gun show to use.490874908849089

Both rifles have the early Rock Island leaf without the top rib and the slide has the square end on
the left side instead of the common curved variation. The numbers on these two leafs are Rock
Island.

My question: Are there are Springfield rear sights with these early Rock Island variations around ?

[John Beard]

The original M1905 rear sight did not have a rib on the back of the leaf to keep the slide from coming off. This was true for sights manufactured at both Springfield and at Rock Island. And the original leaf was graduated to only 2400 yards for the original M1903 cartridge.

When the M1906 cartridge was adopted, rear sight production was suspended for an extended period while the range graduations for the new cartridge were resolved. In the meantime, the new leaf was adopted with the rib on the back. When the range graduations were finally resolved and rear sight production resumed, a few leftover early leaves were graduated at 2700 yards for the new M1906 cartridge at both Springfield and Rock Island. Nothing went to waste.

What graduations do your leaves have? Please oblige us with a picture. Thanks!

J.B.

[RCS]

here are some photos of my Rock Island rear sight490984909949100

[John Beard]

Thanks for the photos!

I haven't seen one of those since examining the collection of C.S. Ferris, who wrote the book on the Rock Island rifles. I have a Springfield rear sight like that graduated to 2400 yards for the M1903 cartridge.

I will also mention that some leftover early leaves had a tiny screw installed in the back to keep the later style slide from coming off. Nothing went to waste.

J.B.