The Jig for Cutting the V in the Rear Express Sights.

Here is a nice old jig which I think you will find of interest. Yesterday, I did an informal deal with my old foreman Ken Halbert, we traded 'gun ephemera' for 'fishing ephemera'. I like the gun stuff and he is now into salmon fishing in his retirement. A 'win win' situation and always a fun deal, one which he normally wins! My end of the deal involved getting back some bits which were under 'admittedly questionable ownership from his bench' along with some other very nice bits and pieces from his collection, in return I equipped him for the salmon rivers!

Once the standing sight of an Express sight assembly has been cut after shooting it is necessary to mark and cut the remaining leaves in a straight line. This is the jig used for the job. I think it is self explanatory how it works but incase.. The blade is put in the shot V notch and then the part with the 'top strap' looking can be lifted and moved over the next blade of the sight (which at this stage would not be V'd) and marked in a perfect line with the first. This would continue until all sight blades are marked.

For those of you who have seen the old Westley Richards rifles with 5 or 6 leaves on the rear Express sight you will see immediately the advantage and accuracy of this jig. The Brass knob on the side of the Jig will position the blade over the V moving it left to right.

Some more bits and pieces from the deal will be shown over the next few days.

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Comments

2 comments

N

Neillon November 04, 2025

Neill on May 11, 2016 at 8:25 pm

Great stuff, love workshop tools like this.
L

Larryon November 04, 2025

Larry on May 10, 2016 at 7:07 pm

Very cool! I see the typical level of WR engineering also went into this jig! However, I’d expect it to be a bit more embellished! Ha!