Old Jacob with his new “peep” sight.
Most of my friends know how I enjoy hunting with the flintlock rifles. I love the gracious flow of the wood, the character and beauty of the Pennsylvania long rifles of the eighteenth century. The last two flintlock seasons I had not done very well with my shooting abilities. I missed many deer with my flintlocks only tagging two. Last year I did not get any deer. Some of the shots I took traditionally would have been a “down-deer.” Trips to the eye doctor didn’t help despite numerous test on the eyes. Last summer I contacted specialist about Lasik-surgery. I wasn’t a candidate. A friend suggested peep sights. I could readily see an advantage, but I wasn’t ready to place a more modern style of sight on my traditional rifle named, Old Jacob. Last year’s mishaps eventually forced a discussion with an avid flintlock shooter. (Old Jacob was a custom-made rifle of the Andrew Verner school of gun building. He lived in eastern Pennsylvania and created this style of stock. during the latter part of the seventeen-hundreds.)
I visited a friend, Curt Boal. He is the owner of a black powder shop near Fenelton, Pennsylvania. His shop is: Curt’s Blackpowder Shop. Visit: http://www.curtsblackpowdershop.com
Our discussion led me to decide to do a peep sight mounting. This morning, (April 2019) I picked up Old Jacob and I agreed with him that the sight looked good on the flinter. This peep sight is not a modern-style sight of today, but more in line with something found on an earlier rifle of the nineteenth century. The sight sets close on the barrel. I guess I can live with this. Fact is, I have to live with it or give up shooting and hunting deer.
To compensate for my feelings on this style of sight, I simply tell myself the colonial hunter would have had a peep sight if that knowledge of them would have been available.
Thank you Curt for a fine job!
Love the peep-sight Larry! You are a true sportsman! Thanks for sharing your blogs, we really enjoy them. Love that rifle, looking to get me a true traditional gun as well. Been hunting with a flintlock, but not a real traditional one. Wish you well on the new sight! Rodney Nulph
On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 11:19 AM Larry A. Smail’s Blog wrote:
> larrysmailart posted: ” Most of my friends know how I enjoy hunting with > the flintlock rifles. I love the gracious flow of the wood, the character > and beauty of the Pennsylvania long rifles of the eighteenth century. The > last two flintlock seasons I had not done very well w” >
Thanks Rodney. I am happy you enjoy these ramblings of mine. Wishing you well!
Larry: Enjoyed the story and subscribed to your blog. I am considering installing the same sight (Johnson Peep Sight) on my flintlock. Question: It looks like Curt has installed an elevation screw just in front of the peep aperture. Does it have enough flexibility for a slight adjustment in elevation? Thank you in advance.
Richard
Yes, there is a screw to adjust the height and thank you. Getting older doesn’t make shooting traditional flinters very easy.