The Savage Model 15 Windgauge open sight was patented in 1914. The double-step elevation adjustment works extremely well, and the shallow Vs allow precise adjustments.

A tiny aperture may allow more precise shot placement on a stationary bullseye at long range, but sometimes actually inhibits accurate sighting for a hunter. At the short ranges at which you hunt with iron sights--for example the bison mentioned above--the steel insert can block out so much of the surrounding animal you can’t tell where you are about to place the bullet. The smaller the aperture, the worse the problem.

Tang sights have always been excellent for elevation adjustments (and sometimes too easy) but poor for windage. The old Lyman sight that hung off the top tang of a Savage 99 like a droopy diving board could be adjusted only for windage by loosening the screws and tilting it with a shim. Hardly an elegant arrangement.

The Lyman tang sights for the Winchesters (1894, 1886, etc.) were the best overall but sometimes presented problems. For example, the model for the 1886 (an original Lyman No. 1, second variation, graces the 1886 in the lead photo for this article) has to sit far back on the tang to allow the bolt to operate, which then forces the shooter to lay his thumb along the grip instead of around it. With the recoil of some ‘86 chamberings, that is dicey.

The aperture sight for hunting reached its zenith with the magnificent Lyman 48 in its many variations to fit almost any rifle. They were carefully made of good blued steel and got better looking with use. Their adjustments were almost as exact as a target sight, but the 48 itself was unobtrusive. Redfield also made some excellent sights, along with Marble, while Williams catered to the economy market.

The great Lymans and Redfields will never return because today they would cost as much as a decent riflescope. There is a lively collector market for them (especially the Lymans), and you can usually find one for a favorite rifle, but it won’t be cheap.

They are not readily compatible with a scope, even a detachable one, because the bases get in the way. If you want to use a receiver sight, best just to put it on and leave it at that.

Over the years, some individual models have been outstanding. The Lyman tang sights for the Model 94, typified by the 2A, achieved near-perfection of form and function for that particular rifle. The same approach on an 1886 fell short because of recoil, length of bolt throw and thumb position.

For the Savage 99, the Rolls-Royce of Lymans was the 56S, a micrometer-adjusted receiver sight that fit on the 99’s tang (pre-tang safety). The 57SA was probably equally good, but I searched long for a 56S for my 1899 target rifle in .32-40. I then found an after-market Merit aperture with an adjustable leaf diaphragm similar to a camera. For a target setup, it is fantastic, but it’s no hunting sight.

Lyman’s designers were truly ingenious, and some of their designs are fascinating on or off a rifle.