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Posted: 11/10/2010 11:52:36 AM EDT
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Guys
I was taking two of my Garands out to take them down and clean up. I've got 3 Garands but have only shot one of them so far. Had them for a while but other than cleaning the bores haven't taken two of them apart yet. To make a long story short I noticed the sight width(Dovetails) between the 3 of them vary. As I was holding one up and sighting I noticed that it would be nice if the Dovetails on the front sight were closer to the sides of the rear site to make it easier to center the front sight post. As I was looking I was thinking I could have swore they were closer the last time I shot the one I have shot. Sure enough my on first Garand, a 43 Springfield, the front sight dovetail is wider(much wider) than the other two I own(which I've never shot). So I wanted to ask what is normal width for the front dovetails? Looks to me like two of mine are bent narrower than supposed to be. Wide dovetails: 
Narrower dovetails: 
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Two different widths of dovetails were produced. Early models were narrower (about .5") and about 1943 the standard was increased to about 5/8", IIRC. They discovered there needed to be more travel for the front sight during sighting-in. Narrow-base gas cylinders are actually in demand for those trying to restore a rifle to factory specs. You need to look at the serial # of the rifle, determine when it was produced, then see if the change in width was before or after that manufacture date. Let me know if you need to swap, I'm looking for a Springfield narrow-base myself. 
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Quoted:
Two different widths of dovetails were produced. Early models were narrower (about .5") and about 1943 the standard was increased to about 5/8", IIRC. They discovered there needed to be more travel for the front sight during sighting-in. Narrow-base gas cylinders are actually in demand for those trying to restore a rifle to factory specs. You need to look at the serial # of the rifle, determine when it was produced, then see if the change in width was before or after that manufacture date. Let me know if you need to swap, I'm looking for a Springfield narrow-base myself. Dont think he is talking about the width of the gas cylinder but the width of the ears on the front sight. "To the OP" Blade widths vary between different manufactures. The bottom sight the right side blade is bent straighter than it should be Here is some info but it isnt all inclusive.: WWII ––- SA .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .625 is most common WRA .812 inches (13/16th) ––- Post war ––- SA late .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .670 HRA .700 to .791 range IHC .875 (7/8th) inches |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Two different widths of dovetails were produced. Early models were narrower (about .5") and about 1943 the standard was increased to about 5/8", IIRC. They discovered there needed to be more travel for the front sight during sighting-in. Narrow-base gas cylinders are actually in demand for those trying to restore a rifle to factory specs. You need to look at the serial # of the rifle, determine when it was produced, then see if the change in width was before or after that manufacture date. Let me know if you need to swap, I'm looking for a Springfield narrow-base myself. Dont think he is talking about the width of the gas cylinder but the width of the ears on the front sight. "To the OP" Blade widths vary between different manufactures. The bottom sight the right side blade is bent straighter than it should be Here is some info but it isnt all inclusive.: WWII ––- SA .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .625 is most common WRA .812 inches (13/16th) ––- Post war ––- SA late .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .670 HRA .700 to .791 range IHC .875 (7/8th) inches Thanks M1G Yep the top pic is from a Springfield 55-57 Correct Grade. Using calibers calipers the outside width is .66 inches. The bottom pic is of a HRA 55-56 Service Grade. It's obvious it's bent to hell so didn't even measure it. I could try and bend the one side out a bit or might just replace it. The other Springfield I have is a Mar 43 Service Grade. The front dovetails on that one measure .842 inches. |
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Just to avoid any confusion, what you're referring to are not called "dovetails." They are usually referred to as "ears." The dovetail is the part the front sight slides on to adjust for windage, taken from the dovetail joint used in woodworking.
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Two different widths of dovetails were produced. Early models were narrower (about .5") and about 1943 the standard was increased to about 5/8", IIRC. They discovered there needed to be more travel for the front sight during sighting-in. Narrow-base gas cylinders are actually in demand for those trying to restore a rifle to factory specs. You need to look at the serial # of the rifle, determine when it was produced, then see if the change in width was before or after that manufacture date. Let me know if you need to swap, I'm looking for a Springfield narrow-base myself. Dont think he is talking about the width of the gas cylinder but the width of the ears on the front sight. "To the OP" Blade widths vary between different manufactures. The bottom sight the right side blade is bent straighter than it should be Here is some info but it isnt all inclusive.: WWII ––- SA .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .625 is most common WRA .812 inches (13/16th) ––- Post war ––- SA late .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .670 HRA .700 to .791 range IHC .875 (7/8th) inches Thanks M1G Yep the top pic is from a Springfield 55-57 Correct Grade. Using calibers the outside width is .66 inches. The bottom pic is of a HRA 55-56 Service Grade. It's obvious it's bent to hell so didn't even measure it. I could try and bend the one side out a bit or might just replace it. The other Springfield I have is a Mar 43 Service Grade. The front dovetails on that one measure .842 inches. |
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Yep, which is why I went off on the tangent of the base the sight sits on. Quoted: Just to avoid any confusion, what you're referring to are not called "dovetails." They are usually referred to as "ears." The dovetail is the part the front sight slides on to adjust for windage, taken from the dovetail joint used in woodworking. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Two different widths of dovetails were produced. Early models were narrower (about .5") and about 1943 the standard was increased to about 5/8", IIRC. They discovered there needed to be more travel for the front sight during sighting-in. Narrow-base gas cylinders are actually in demand for those trying to restore a rifle to factory specs. You need to look at the serial # of the rifle, determine when it was produced, then see if the change in width was before or after that manufacture date. Let me know if you need to swap, I'm looking for a Springfield narrow-base myself. Dont think he is talking about the width of the gas cylinder but the width of the ears on the front sight. "To the OP" Blade widths vary between different manufactures. The bottom sight the right side blade is bent straighter than it should be Here is some info but it isnt all inclusive.: WWII ––- SA .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .625 is most common WRA .812 inches (13/16th) ––- Post war ––- SA late .625 (5/8th) to .687 (11/16th) inches .670 HRA .700 to .791 range IHC .875 (7/8th) inches Thanks M1G Yep the top pic is from a Springfield 55-57 Correct Grade. Using calibers the outside width is .66 inches. The bottom pic is of a HRA 55-56 Service Grade. It's obvious it's bent to hell so didn't even measure it. I could try and bend the one side out a bit or might just replace it. The other Springfield I have is a Mar 43 Service Grade. The front dovetails on that one measure .842 inches. |
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