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Nineteenth century iron sights proved so useful that they remain with us today. Consider the Marble Arms threesome of full buckhorn, semi-buckhorn, and flat-top rear sights. Dovetailed into the barrel, these open irons are adjusted for windage by drifting left or right, elevation accomplished via a double step elevator (ladder). You drift the front sight left to hit right, right to hit left, rear sight up for higher, down for lower bullet impact. Simple and effective. All three have white enamel diamonds for center reference with reversible U- or V-notches. The Marble open rear sight is a prime example of the family. But there are scores of others on new rifles as well as myriad after-market choices.

A good look at an elevator bar, also called a ladder, beneath an open iron sight. The notches are used to change the height of the sight, going up to hit higher, down to hit lower. The notches do not have a specific value.

The justly-renowned receiver-mounted Lyman Peep Sight.

Rifle iron sight variation over time is an interesting study. But management of these sights is imperative for in-the-field results. The glass sight magnifies the image, which in turn increases perceived rifle movement. The rifleman immediately discovers that if he or she wants to hit that target, a better stance with greater control is demanded — sitting, kneeling, prone, hasty sling (carry strap or sling slipped through arm) or, better, a solid rest, be it the top strut of a packframe or over a log or boulder. The iron sight can give a false sense of rifle steadiness because it lacks magnification, leading the shooter to “hold sloppy.” I once found a dandy Marlin half-magazine 336 in .32 Winchester Special. Groups were OK with original irons. Adding a Lyman micrometer “peep” provided honest 1.5-inch and smaller patterns at 100 yards.