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Thread: Why are they called foresight & back/rear sight?

  1. #1
    Member Hermitage's Avatar
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    Why are they called foresight & back/rear sight?

    I'm sure there is probably a very simple answer to this question, but I just don't know it...so

    If you look at a photo or painting, the 'foreground' is the part of the image that looks closest to you (ie a beach). While the 'background' is the part in the image that looks farthest away from the observer (ie the sea).

    However with a firearm, the 'foresight' is the part of the rifle that is farthest away from you... while the 'backsight' is the part that is closest to you.

    Why?
    A good job and a good wife has been the ruin of many a good hunter.

  2. #2
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    I think it's to do with the fact that you're looking past the rifle but at the painting.
    imagine you're looking down your rifle at a mirror

  3. #3
    308
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hermitage View Post
    I'm sure there is probably a very simple answer to this question, but I just don't know it...so

    If you look at a photo or painting, the 'foreground' is the part of the image that looks closest to you (ie a beach). While the 'background' is the part in the image that looks farthest away from the observer (ie the sea).

    However with a firearm, the 'foresight' is the part of the rifle that is farthest away from you... while the 'backsight' is the part that is closest to you.

    Why?
    Hard to know if you are taking the piss or really this dumb

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by 308 View Post
    Hard to know if you are taking the piss or really this dumb
    I don’t know what your problem is, but I’m guessing it’s really hard to spell... most personality disorders are.
    Barry the hunter likes this.
    A good job and a good wife has been the ruin of many a good hunter.

  5. #5
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    Foresight: front end of rifle barrel
    Back (rear)sight: back end of barrel.
    veitnamcam, Bagheera, 308 and 5 others like this.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ranger 888 View Post
    Foresight: front end of rifle barrel
    Back (rear)sight: back end of barrel.
    Possible? I don't know....will see if others say the same.
    A good job and a good wife has been the ruin of many a good hunter.

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    Why is anything called anything ?
    Micky Duck and techno retard like this.
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    Quote Originally Posted by 308 View Post
    Hard to know if you are taking the piss or really this dumb

    Prob more like a deep & meaningful thought at the end of a long day
    Finnwolf and Hermitage like this.

  9. #9
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    It's obvious why a tang sight is called a tang sight.
    It's on the tang.

    But why is it called a tang ?
    Micky Duck likes this.
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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by akaroa1 View Post
    It's obvious why a tang sight is called a tang sight.
    It's on the tang.

    But why is it called a tang ?
    You have to start somewhere. The naming of things is a fundamental aspect of human language and communication... it provides a framework for understanding and navigating the world around us.
    Anyway why is is called a foresight/back sight? Looks like it could be the barrel as Ranger888 has 3 likes, so is probably correct.
    A good job and a good wife has been the ruin of many a good hunter.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by akaroa1 View Post
    It's obvious why a tang sight is called a tang sight.
    It's on the tang.

    But why is it called a tang ?
    Does it taste tangy ?

  12. #12
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    If you lick the Tang on a file you'll find that it is quite sharp
    Micky Duck likes this.

  13. #13
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    fore
    adjective
    adjective: fore

    situated or placed in front.
    "the fore and hind pairs of wings"

    noun
    noun: fore; plural noun: fores

    the front part of something, especially a ship.

    exclamation
    The Church of
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  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by akaroa1 View Post
    fore
    adjective
    adjective: fore

    situated or placed in front.
    "the fore and hind pairs of wings"

    noun
    noun: fore; plural noun: fores

    the front part of something, especially a ship.

    exclamation
    That is the serious answer
    Micky Duck and Hermitage like this.
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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by akaroa1 View Post
    It's obvious why a tang sight is called a tang sight.
    It's on the tang.

    But why is it called a tang ?
    because it would just be silly to have the tang sight on the butt stock. It needed to get fixed to the something appropiate, might as well call it a tang.
    I reckon we could play origin of chickens and eggs all day.
    Hermitage likes this.
    Every machine is a smoke machine,
    If you use it wrong enough.

 

 

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