Possible Indian scout rifle??

[Carlsr]

Found this rifle at the Baltimore show. It's an 1877 produced rifle serial# 81748 with Fort Bowie Team 10 stamped on the butt. Serial# puts this rifle in a range where numerous rifles were sent to Fort Bowie and issued to Indian Scouts. This may have possible been one but it's 5 digits off of 81743. Should there be anyone here with additional information on this serial # I'd be happy to hear about it. It also has what appears to be a home made Bull rear sight?? I believe there was someone here that was making them but not sure who.
Also I finally finished building my 1891 rod bayonet project. I found the last part needed which was a correct complete lock at almost the last table yesterday in Baltimore. Turned out nice and if not knowledgeable on Trap Doors you would never know it was re blued. These pictures would not load on the new bulletin board : (
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[Carlsr]

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[Dick Hosmer]

VERY nice find. What makes you think the Bull sight is home-made? That is an 1877 sight; they used some of them along with the more-frequently seen M1879.

[Tom Trevor]

Carlsr, Rifle came from the Burt Kellerstat collection. See Springfield Shoulder Weapons 1795-1968 by Robert W.D. Ball. page 111. The team 10 would refer to a rifle team not Indian scouts. Now why would the post stamp this on a rifle that the team was using when as soon as a later model was issued these would be turned in and hell would be raised for marking government property. Has anyone ever seen rifles 1-9 and 11-12? He was very lucky in his collection to also have another rifle with the name of a very good arsenal marksman and worker press into the stock in the same lettering size . Draw your own conclusions. Hope this helps. Edit as Dick said sight looks good I have one just like it.

[Carlsr]

Dick, the sight adjustment knob just didn’t look right. It actually looks to me to be a Buffington sight windage knob?? It is also mounted with slotted screws, seems the rear screw head is smaller than the front. I couldn’t find detailed photos of a Bull sight other than side view plus another person at the show told me it was home made.

[Carlsr]

Thank you Tom, I see what you are saying. I’ll have to look for that book!
Thanks for confirming the sight, I was going to switch it yesterday LOL.
It’s a really nice rifle with a shiny bore. When the dealer showed it to me it looked to be a little pitted but one patch down the pipe it came out shiny!!
Different angle.

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[Tom Trevor]

Carlsr, The correct screws for the Bull sights are in fact two different sizes. While rear one is a bit buggered do not replace it. The head with fine work can be restored to presentable condition.

[Carlsr]

I did some research a while back on fixing buggered screw heads. With my luck Tom I’d either damage the threads or bust the head off LOL!
I figured the rear screw would be smaller to allow for clearance when raising the leaf. The front screw is perfect, wonder why the rear screw is buggered the way it is??

[Tom Trevor]

Carsr, The answer is the last guy to try the screws used the same screwdriver he shoves in electrical sockets to see if they are live. A very dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.

[Carlsr]

And I don’t have one of those special screw drivers to remove it :icon_lol:

[Dick Hosmer]

Knob looks larger than Buffington to me. Tom knows his long-range stuff, and Burt Kellerstedt was a legend in the Springfield fraternity. Had the pleasure of meeting him once at an Allentown PA show in the early '90s.

[Tom Trevor]

Carlsr, Here are three sights left 77, center M-79, right M-79 made by a friend who was a first class machinist all his life. Take a micrometer and check the diameter of your knob is should be close to .4265181851819

[Carlsr]

I'll check the measurement tonight after work, hopefully it is correct. Thanks Tom.

[Dick Hosmer]

5182151822Apologies for jumping in but I felt those pics were so good they deserved better lighting.

[Carlsr]

Tom, the knob is .392, is that an issue?
Also the leaf sides are much narrower than those pictured. Numbers on the right are partially missing the 0 on the 10 and 1 on the 11.

[Tom Trevor]

Carlsr, the M-77 sights were the first to be modified so small differences can be expected. Note how the knobs are identical as is the method of riveting on the off side. The leaf is slightly different in the amount of milling, Mine also has the 1 and the 0 cut down. but each is a custom job You have a very rare sight.

[Dick Hosmer]

As I understand it, the leaves were narrowed to allow at least some windage adjustment via the screw when the leaf is folded down. I believe that came from Al. I may have copied it off the old BB, but my eyes are getting crossed.

[Carlsr]

Thank you Tom and Dick, I appreciate all your help and knowledge!
I received a copy of Springfield Shoulder Weapons 1795-1968 yesterday. Pictures are dark but now I have a little history to go with the rifle.

[Tom Trevor]

Pictures are dark. They sure are what ever possessed then to use a red background? Perhaps one owned a large red bath towel! Dick is correct the milling was to allow fine windage adjustment before staff was raised beyond ears.