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Backward Flip Sights

Printed From: The Carbine Collector's Club
Category: The Club
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Carbine Related
URL: http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3859
Printed Date: Mar 28 2024 at 1:49pm
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Topic: Backward Flip Sights
Posted By: David Albert
Subject: Backward Flip Sights
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 3:01pm
I'm posting this as a new topic, because it was originally posted as a comment I made in response to a new member introduction, and it seems like it should be a separate thread.

Some members here and elsewhere have encountered M1 Carbine flip sights that are installed backwards. I just want to provide a historical perspective on this that may prove interesting to some. Flip sights were probably often installed backwards during production. Attention to detail in assembly can be a challenge, and if a flip sight were installed backwards, it probably didn't make a noticeable difference to an inspector, or the end user.

This is where manuals and other supportive documentation can get really interesting.

Here is a link to a post on the subject of backwards flip sights from 2011.

http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13137" rel="nofollow - http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13137

There are at least 4 official WWII era reference sources where the rear flip sight on an M1 Carbine is shown installed backwards. The first is USMC filmstrip "TFS-6," covering "Nomenclature of the U.S. Carbine, Caliber .30, M1." I have this filmstrip in my collection, and it is available for download at the preceding link. The rear sight on page 10 of the filmstrip is installed backwards.

FM 23-7, dated May 20, 1942, p. 2 (and arguably the line drawing on p.3), and TB 23-7-1, dated March 17, 1942, pp. 24-27, both show the taper of the aperture toward the shooter's eye. (Backwards) Incidentally, TB 23-7-1 also shows the rear sight installed correctly on page 5, on Inland M1 Carbine serial #18. It appears that the same Carbine has the sight installed incorrectly on pp. 26-27. I am not 100% certain it's the same serial number Carbine, but if it's not Inland serial #18, it's #15 or #16. Anyway, inconsistency is demonstrated within the same manual.

Inconsistency is also shown in a "Base Shop Data - Small Arms" manual prepared by Rock Island Arsenal "For Distribution to the British Forces by British Army Staff, North America, October, 1943." (Rare manual) In the "Dismantling" section, sheet 6 of 8 appears to show the rear sight backwards in the "Dismantling of Barrel and Removal of Rear Sight" section. Later on that same page, it describes how to disassemble the rear flip sight to its component parts, and shows the sight in its correct orientation, even though it is disassembled. These are line drawings, rather than photos, as with the aforementioned FM and TB examples.

In TM 9-1276, dated 5 June 1943, the taper of the flip sight aperture faces out, in the correct orientation, which appears to be the earliest, correct reference in a manual. The sight was later phased out.

My assumption, and that of most others is that the aperture on the flip sight should be flat towards the eye, and the tapered portion of the aperture should face toward the target. Does anyone have evidence of that being officially documented anywhere, such as in a blueprint?

Your comments are appreciated.

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

-------------
NRA Life Member
Past Pres., The American Thompson Association
Amer. Society of Arms Collectors
OGCA/TCA/Carbine Club/GCA/IAA
SAR Writer
Author - The Many Firearm Designs of Eugene Reising
Eagle Scout



Replies:
Posted By: sling00
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 3:58pm
One observation to corroborate your assumption is to observe type 2 and 3 adjustable sights, as well as Garands.  The taper is on the downrange side, toward the target.  Also, Riesch says the S always faces left for the base taper.  How does that line it up?


Posted By: David Albert
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 4:37pm
Originally posted by sling00 sling00 wrote:

One observation to corroborate your assumption is to observe type 2 and 3 adjustable sights, as well as Garands.  The taper in on the downrange side, toward the target.  Also, Riesch says the S always faces left for the base taper.


Good points. Regarding the base taper, I believe the aperture portion of the flip sight could be flipped by itself, with the base remaining in the standard orientation. Please correct me if I'm wrong in this assumption.

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

-------------
NRA Life Member
Past Pres., The American Thompson Association
Amer. Society of Arms Collectors
OGCA/TCA/Carbine Club/GCA/IAA
SAR Writer
Author - The Many Firearm Designs of Eugene Reising
Eagle Scout


Posted By: NewScotlander
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 4:50pm
In the Marine Corps filmstrip, is the whole sight installed backwards or is the aperture installed backwards on the sight? It's hard to say from what I can see and I'm guessing just the aperture was installed backwards.

The serial number of the carbine appears to be 107888. Is that what you see?


Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 5:03pm
Great find of the filmstrip. I am guessing it was redone at some point and maybe became obsolete? Seems the filmstrips that were standard were 7 series.

Did anyone point out the error in slide 3? It is on another slide but I do not want to make it too easy.

I have observed several backward sights on early QHMC carbines. I am guessing they may not have left the factory that way, rather they loosened up and the operator found putting the sight in backward that the sight can be drifted in place and hold its position. This is just speculation and may have left the factory with the S to the right.

The dovetail or the sight is supposed to be tapered, Maybe both? A member was working on looking into the blueprints. By having the S to orientate the base would ensure the alignment. 


On the sight window: It is my understanding that by having the opening forward it lets in more light. However, I have seen some precision sights with the taper to the eye.
My thought is that if the sight aperture is too thick it could blur the light. Sort of like looking through a paper towel tube. If you do not look perfectly straight the view picks up the sides of the tube. Naturally, this is an exaggerated example.

Interested in hearing others thoughts.

Edit to add: FM 23-7 May 20, 1942, page two shows what I believe to be the Winchester prototype. the L sight was different. also look at the hight wood. 
 subsequent pictures show an experimental adjustable rear sight. the text says that models of the carbine initially issued will be equipped with an L-type rear sight. Page 4 goes on to say later models will be equipped with an adjustable rear sight


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Posted By: David Albert
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 5:55pm
Originally posted by NewScotlander NewScotlander wrote:

In the Marine Corps filmstrip, is the whole sight installed backwards or is the aperture installed backwards on the sight? It's hard to say from what I can see and I'm guessing just the aperture was installed backwards.

The serial number of the carbine appears to be 107888. Is that what you see?


I think the aperture is installed backwards on the sight base. The sight base also appears to have a lot of punch marks on both sides.

I agree that the serial number is 107888.

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

-------------
NRA Life Member
Past Pres., The American Thompson Association
Amer. Society of Arms Collectors
OGCA/TCA/Carbine Club/GCA/IAA
SAR Writer
Author - The Many Firearm Designs of Eugene Reising
Eagle Scout


Posted By: Why Carbines?
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 6:20pm
Printed materials, especially older and even new, can have reverse images. Now I am not saying that explains all of the backwards flips seen in the manuals, but it's a possibility overall. As far as backwards flips from the factory, I don't remember seeing a lot, just occasionally and sometimes it's the leaf that's backwards and the base facing correctly, other times it's the whole assembly. Btw, when I see one "wrong" it's often because Bubba "the Corrector" has been at work and the sight is phony, in fact it can be a tipoff to a corrected rifle as a whole.


Posted By: David Albert
Date Posted: Feb 01 2019 at 7:08pm
Originally posted by Why Carbines? Why Carbines? wrote:

Printed materials, especially older and even new, can have reverse images. Now I am not saying that explains all of the backwards flips seen in the manuals, but it's a possibility overall. As far as backwards flips from the factory, I don't remember seeing a lot, just occasionally and sometimes it's the leaf that's backwards and the base facing correctly, other times it's the whole assembly. Btw, when I see one "wrong" it's often because Bubba "the Corrector" has been at work and the sight is phony, in fact it can be a tipoff to a corrected rifle as a whole.


True about the reversing of images, but the photos in all the cited examples contain sufficient perspective to refute reversal.

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

-------------
NRA Life Member
Past Pres., The American Thompson Association
Amer. Society of Arms Collectors
OGCA/TCA/Carbine Club/GCA/IAA
SAR Writer
Author - The Many Firearm Designs of Eugene Reising
Eagle Scout


Posted By: blackfish
Date Posted: Feb 02 2019 at 6:38am
Originally posted by New2brass New2brass wrote:

On the sight window: It is my understanding that by having the opening forward it lets in more light. My thought is that if the sight aperture is too thick it could blur the light. Sort of like looking through a paper towel tube.


A thick aperture cuts down on the light thru the "tube". Physically what allows more light thru is the thinness at the aperture - that's why it's dished to remove material and still provide a sturdy sight. Facing the dish away from the eye minimizes detail which the brain must sort out to get a sight picture when time is of the essence and there's not a moment to lose.



Posted By: David Albert
Date Posted: Feb 02 2019 at 9:14am
Originally posted by New2brass New2brass wrote:


Did anyone point out the error in slide 3? It is on another slide but I do not want to make it too easy.





Handguard backward orientation on slide 3, and handguard groove identification on slide 11?

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com


-------------
NRA Life Member
Past Pres., The American Thompson Association
Amer. Society of Arms Collectors
OGCA/TCA/Carbine Club/GCA/IAA
SAR Writer
Author - The Many Firearm Designs of Eugene Reising
Eagle Scout


Posted By: jackp1028
Date Posted: Feb 02 2019 at 10:44am
Also, the the end of the sling looks a little frayed. Check out slide #27.

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JackP


Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Feb 02 2019 at 11:17am
Nope, not what I am looking at.

Looking at the pictures it seems the carbine was run through its paces. I am sure it was manhandled and tore down and put together many times which probably accounts for the sling being frayed. That was the very reason for going to the D tips


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Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Feb 10 2019 at 11:26pm
Slide 5 and 7 both show the sling swivel on backwards.

Slide 8 has something that could be considered possibly erroneous.

@blackfish, you explanation makes sense.

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Posted By: painter777
Date Posted: Feb 11 2019 at 4:18pm
Wasn't there a very early WRA carbine reported with a backward flip sight that was on display at Cody, the Smithsonian or Springfield Armory.. ?
Seems I recall a very early one like 1,000,001 (Olins') or close to it.
Anyone remember this ?

Do recall seeing some WRA Prototypes with a different style rear leaf that had the 'Dish' toward the eye.

fwiw


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Living Free because of those that serve.....


Posted By: New2brass
Date Posted: Feb 11 2019 at 6:36pm
Originally posted by New2brass New2brass wrote:


Edit to add: FM 23-7 May 20, 1942, page two shows what I believe to be the Winchester prototype. the L sight was different. also look at the hight wood. 
 subsequent pictures show an experimental adjustable rear sight. the text says that models of the carbine initially issued will be equipped with an L-type rear sight. Page 4 goes on to say later models will be equipped with an adjustable rear sight

Charlie, I was just looking for the picture that used to be on our header with the Winchester prototype


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Posted By: David Albert
Date Posted: Feb 11 2019 at 6:42pm
Originally posted by New2brass New2brass wrote:

Slide 5 and 7 both show the sling swivel on backwards.

Slide 8 has something that could be considered possibly erroneous.



New2brass,

That seems so obvious now...but it just didn't jump out at me...

In slide 8, is the piston missing?

Thanks!

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

-------------
NRA Life Member
Past Pres., The American Thompson Association
Amer. Society of Arms Collectors
OGCA/TCA/Carbine Club/GCA/IAA
SAR Writer
Author - The Many Firearm Designs of Eugene Reising
Eagle Scout


Posted By: Why Carbines?
Date Posted: Feb 11 2019 at 6:48pm
Look at slide 9 and see if anyone notices the issue.


Posted By: David Albert
Date Posted: Feb 15 2019 at 6:56pm
Here is the best illustration I've found among my Carbine paper items of the correct orientation of a flip sight. This is from the Camp Hood, TX Tank Destroyer School manual on the U.S. Carbine, Cal. .30 M1.



Incidentally, this manual is undated, though it is very early, as it mentions that the Carbine was designed by Winchester, and was manufactured by General Motors Co., Inland Division, in Dayton, OH. It does not mention any other manufacturers. I believe the manual may pre-date TB 23-7-1 and FM 23-7.

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com


-------------
NRA Life Member
Past Pres., The American Thompson Association
Amer. Society of Arms Collectors
OGCA/TCA/Carbine Club/GCA/IAA
SAR Writer
Author - The Many Firearm Designs of Eugene Reising
Eagle Scout


Posted By: sling00
Date Posted: Feb 16 2019 at 6:04am
Good info.  It's probably used elsewhere but I think this is the first time I've seen Kentucky windage used in an official document.  Thanks for sharing.


Posted By: Grendl
Date Posted: Jun 12 2019 at 4:37pm
I'm sorry to revive this, but earlier in the thread, Mr. Albert asked if the aperture could be removed and reinstalled without removing the base. Any input would be welcome :-) 


Posted By: kro1970
Date Posted: Jun 13 2019 at 9:14am
Yes the flip can be removed and reversed without removing the base.


Posted By: M1carvine4me
Date Posted: Jun 13 2019 at 9:27am
Here is another perspective that I do not know if was brought up. Could the flipping of the sight "backwards vs forwards" just be a personal preference of the shooter? Just like all the options for sights on current issue rifles.

Sometimes people have different backgrounds in shooting,  this also would explain the removed front sight ears, "v" notched rear sights etc. It would be way earlier to modify the rifle to your shooting preferences then to retrain someone with a decade of experience. 

I had an m1 that had the ears trimmed and the taller rear flip sight v notched .. I thought it was bubba's handiwork. Until I found out the gun was a bring back and was done during the war. Granted I was told the guy cought sh*t about what he did. But was marksman qualified with the carbine. The guy leaned to shoot with those types if sights and it just came naturally I would guess. I only sold it back to the family a few years later because the person I got it from didn't know what the family history was. 

Yea cant be an asshole all the time


Posted By: sling00
Date Posted: Jun 13 2019 at 10:09am
FYI, here's a previous discussion on V notched
http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/notched-flip-rear-sights_topic1504_page1.html?KW=notched+rear" rel="nofollow - http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/notched-flip-rear-sights_topic1504_page1.html?KW=notched+rear


Posted By: Grendl
Date Posted: Jun 13 2019 at 11:57am
Thanks for the answer, I assume one would use a punch since a specialized pin pushing tool wouldn't normally be necessary?

Doesn't matter in my case, I just looked and apparently the flip sight was installed backwards as the S is on the right side :-(



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