Help identifying a military rear sight please.

velocette · September 24, 2007, 05:38 PM

The sight in the attached photos was in a box given to me by a retired Army MSGT many years ago. His son and I worked together at that time.
I have no Idea what it is from or whether it is of interest to those that value militaria.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
I have more photos that I can e-mail to anyone needing more.

Roger

**Mike Irwin** · September 25, 2007, 11:35 AM

I want to say it looks like a rear sight off an FN-FAL-type rifle, but I'm just not sure.

When you say you got it years ago, can you give an estimate as to what year you received it? That will help eliminate some possibilities.

velocette · September 25, 2007, 01:00 PM

Approximated date of 1985. sight is about 4" tall and 1.25" wide at base.

I doubt that this SGT would have any foreign made parts. He was devoutly American and equally "buy American"

Roger

SDC · September 25, 2007, 01:19 PM

From it's appearance, I'd say it was likely a belt-fed machinegun of some description; you can see that it was meant to drift into a dovetail cutout, and it has large knob for flipping the sight up, meaning it would normally be stowed folded.

Johnny Guest · October 1, 2007, 09:00 AM

Perhaps from a 1917 Browning water cooled .30 MG?

Strictly a guess.

Powderman · October 1, 2007, 09:23 AM

Gun, Machine, 7.62x51 NATO, M60 series, w/e.

That is the rear sight assembly.

velocette · October 1, 2007, 05:34 PM

Thank you Powderman and all others that helped.
I did google M60 & did see photos of an m60 with that sight on it.

Roger

**Mike Irwin** · October 1, 2007, 11:37 PM

Glad the mystery was solved.

"Perhaps from a 1917 Browning water cooled .30 MG?"

Not even close, Johnny.

Far too short.

The rear sight on the 1917 a folding latter, but was at least 4" long, square across the top, and was calibrated, IIRC, to at least 3,500 yards.

Johnny Guest · October 2, 2007, 07:50 AM

Mike, don't know why I didn't at least take a glance at the max range on that sight. I once worked for a salty old attorney who, as a youngster, had used the heavy Brownings in Italy. He told of carefully siting guns on a mountainside and taking German positions under fire at nearly two miles. Said it worked rather well until the enemy located their site and reciprocated with artillery . . . .

September 24, 2007, 05:38 PM	#1
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Help identifying a military rear sight please. The sight in the attached photos was in a box given to me by a retired Army MSGT many years ago. His son and I worked together at that time. I have no Idea what it is from or whether it is of interest to those that value militaria. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I have more photos that I can e-mail to anyone needing more. Roger Last edited by velocette; November 25, 2007 at 05:38 PM.

September 25, 2007, 11:35 AM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	I want to say it looks like a rear sight off an FN-FAL-type rifle, but I'm just not sure. When you say you got it years ago, can you give an estimate as to what year you received it? That will help eliminate some possibilities. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

September 25, 2007, 01:19 PM	#4
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	From it's appearance, I'd say it was likely a belt-fed machinegun of some description; you can see that it was meant to drift into a dovetail cutout, and it has large knob for flipping the sight up, meaning it would normally be stowed folded. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

October 1, 2007, 09:00 AM	#5
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	Very robust construction. Perhaps from a 1917 Browning water cooled .30 MG? Strictly a guess.

October 1, 2007, 09:23 AM	#6
Powderman Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2001 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,166	Gun, Machine, 7.62x51 NATO, M60 series, w/e. That is the rear sight assembly. __________________ Hiding in plain sight...

September 25, 2007, 01:00 PM	#3
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Approximated date of 1985. sight is about 4" tall and 1.25" wide at base. I doubt that this SGT would have any foreign made parts. He was devoutly American and equally "buy American" Roger

October 1, 2007, 05:34 PM	#7
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Thank you Powderman and all others that helped. I did google M60 & did see photos of an m60 with that sight on it. Roger

October 1, 2007, 11:37 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	Glad the mystery was solved. "Perhaps from a 1917 Browning water cooled .30 MG?" Not even close, Johnny. Far too short. The rear sight on the 1917 a folding latter, but was at least 4" long, square across the top, and was calibrated, IIRC, to at least 3,500 yards. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 2, 2007, 07:50 AM	#9
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	Had I but thought - - Mike, don't know why I didn't at least take a glance at the max range on that sight. I once worked for a salty old attorney who, as a youngster, had used the heavy Brownings in Italy. He told of carefully siting guns on a mountainside and taking German positions under fire at nearly two miles. Said it worked rather well until the enemy located their site and reciprocated with artillery . . . .