Here is an interesting 'time capsule' for sale on ebay.

It displays a habbit I have noted in the past:

'Back In The Day', when Shooters/Hunters put a "No-Drill" aperture sight on their Krag, they tended to save discarded parts in the box the after-market sight came in, along with the instructions. (Those original parts were just too pretty & useful to throw away)!

This Gem indicates a Pacific aperture sight was sent C.O.D. to Mr. Walter N. Steffen of American Fork, Utah, on June 4, 1931. The cost was $5.12, plus a 10 cent fee. (This was during the Depth of the Great Depression).

Mr. Steffen Paid the C.O.D. (Wow, a $5.12 sight on a $1.50 Rifle)!

Judging by the cut-off lever, the Krag was a model 1898 and the Pacific sight got installed.

The model 1902 rear sight features the leaf and binding-screw knob that was originally intended for The Rod-Bayonet 1903 Springfield.

This trivia is all interesting to me.

p.s. - The sight disc is likely a Pacific original, set aside by Mr. Steffen, to have a better view for Hunting.

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The address interests me. That is nine blocks from where I grew up (4xx 17th Avenue) and is definitely a totally residential area - must have been a garage (called basements in SF even though above grade) next time I am in the City (which may be years, if ever) I'll try to remember to have a look. Google is no help, house numbers not visible, but they are the typical for SF 25' wide/zero clearance lots. Other parts of the country call similar construction "row houses" in a perjorative sense, but if you want one of these, you'ld better bring LOTS of money, often well over $1 million.

Good catch Dick. The 682 24th Ave. address must have been an early  S.F. location for the Pacific Gun  Sight Co.

All other materials, I have seen, give the Company's address as 355 Hayes Street, San Francisco, Calif.

Nick Stroebel, "Old Gunsights & Rifle Scopes", stated: "The Pacific Gunsight Company, 355 Hayes Street, San Francisco, California, was started in the late 1920s to produce a quality line of reloading tools as well as gun-sights".

Stoebel reports the 1953 edition of the "Gun Digest" as the last mention of the Pacific Co. manufacturing gun-sights. Reloading tools were manufactured until the company's 1991 closure.

The Pacific sight 'literature' often mentions a 1931 patent date.

Pacific sights also were eventually packaged in a distinctive box.
(Due to postal labels, I can't tell if that is the case with the sight I showed at the start of this thread).

(Attached catalog pages from 1934):

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Pacific instructions with the better known address:

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That's a little more like it - though still somewhat residential. It may be the street level shop area of the gray apartment building (which looks old enough) or perhaps the brick-face storefront to the north (left) which appears to haver been refaced (or built new) in the 50s. Again, real numbers cannot be seen and Google's "guesses" are far more often wrong than right.

I 'Google searched' the patent number cited in the Pacific Catalog #8 (1934).

It appears the inventor of the Pacific 'No-Drill' rear sight was Mr. Walter Joseph Sutton.
The 'proto-type/patent drawing' version shows a 'tubular' main body. This obviously was changed to machined 'flat' surfaces, when actually manufactured.

Attached are the pages from the approved (1931) patent. It was applied for in 1928. Sketches show crude renderings of 1903 Springfield (Fig.#1) and Krag (Fig.#4) actions.

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I believe, I have found the "Pacific Sight" inventor in a number of records. I wonder if Mr. Walter Joseph Sutton sold the Rights to his approved sight patent to "Pacific"?

Checking 1930 U.S. Census records, it appears Walter was a 36 year old Machinist  living with his wife, Helen B., son, Jack W., and daughter, Lorraine, at 424 Balboa, San Francisco, Cal.

Walter was born in San Francisco, June 1, 1893. The second youngest of ten children, at age 16 he was a Cutter Operator.

In a 1915 City Directory, Walter is a Machinist residing at 1111 Steiner.

He married in 1918. His WW1 Draft Registration has him living at 2123 Bush St. and "Self-Employed" at a Machine Shop located at 223 Fielson St. (?) - maybe Freelon St.(?).

His WW2 Draft Registration card has Walter J. Sutton living at 301 S. Vineyard St., Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. He was employed in the Instrument Shop at Pearl Harbor.

Soc. Sec. records indicate Walter died at San Francisco in February 1976.

I could not link this Walter Joseph Sutton to addresses or other direct connection to the Pacific Gun Sight Company. However, he seems likely to be the San Francisco Inventor, documented in the Pacific Gun Sight patent.

I suspect maybe he sold the rights or received a royalty on his "no-drill" sight design.

As manufactured by the Pacific Gun Sight Company, Walter J. Sutton's design was drastically changed. However, the basic principle, of the aperture sight being retained by a 'pin' in the magazine cut-off hole and a 'lock-screw', remained.

434 Balboa would be about 20 blocks from the 24th Avenue address, in fact Balboa is one of the cross streets at the other address, and, there used to be a streetcar line connecting the two! Bush and Steiner are both residential, while Freelon (there is such a street) would have been industrial.

I looked at (San Francisco) Polk Directories for 1936 and 1939 (online). This provided some explanations and clarifications.

In 1936, Walter Joseph Sutton, residing at 524 24th Ave. Walter is listed as a 'mech.' at W.J. Sutton & R.J. Miller, "Guns" business at 355 Hayes St. (This is the later address used by the Pacific Gun Sight Co.).

Robert J. Miller, Mgr. and Robert S. Miller, Sec. live in a residence at 682 Twenty-fourth Ave. (This is the address that appears on the Sight Instructions at the very start of this thread).

It appears that in the early days, the Millers' home address was used as the company's mailing address.

In the 1936 Directory, there is no mention, that I can find, of the Pacific Gun Sight Co., (although, catalogs and products bore the Pacific name).

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In the 1939 Polk Directory (San Francisco) The Pacific Gun Sight Company is listed. Its address is given as 353 Hayes (error?). It is pretty close to 355 Hayes!

In 1939, Robert J. Miller and Robert S. Miller are at separate residences. (Likely son Robert S. got married). Both men are listed as connected to the Pacific Gun Sight Company.

In 1939, Walter J. Sutton is listed as a 'mech.', but, no connection is any longer shown to the Pacific Gun Sight Co. or the Millers.

FWIW - In the 1938 Polk Directory, I can find no Listing for the Pacific Gun Sight Co. That year, Robert J. Miller is listed as a 'Gunsmith' operating at 355 Hayes Street.

My hunch is that around 1938, possibly, Walter J. Sutton was bought out and the Millers legally organized things as the "Pacific Gun Sight Co".

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The Hornady company history shows a vintage ad with Pacific's address as 2901 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA.    (You need to Login.  The Hornady info states Pacific was adqiured in 1971.
Vic

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Still have, and use, my Pacific Jr. press, with dedicated (.30-40) ram. The interchangeable button shell holders were yet to be invented.

It is funny how obscure and unknown the history of small specialized companies can be.

Older 'Gun Guys' grew up aware of Pacific Reloading Dies and Presses.

San Francisco made, Pacific Gun Sights are well known to us on 'Sportered' Krag rifles.

Pacific Catalogs exist from the early 1930s. Strangely, the company is not referred to as "Pacific Gun Sight Co.", in the (S.F.) Polk Directories, until 1939.

The actual history of this company seems unreported and buried. Only a 'slight glimpse' appears from assorted records.

FWIW - The last entry I could find for the Pacific Gun Sight Company in the San Francisco Polk Directory was 1948-1949. The Company was listed at 355 Hayes Street and 1418 Polk.

The 1948-1949 Directory is also the last listing I found for Robert J. Miller and Robert S. Miller having residences in S.F.

It is possible the Company moved and relocated around this time.

San Francisco Sanborn Maps indicate the building at 355 Hayes Street was built in 1924 and is still standing. (Much modified, I suspect).

I have yet to find photographs or much historical detail on this seemingly obscure company.

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'rcathey' posted an undated American Rifleman article, by J.R. Mattern, "The Krag After 40 Years", on the Military Surplus Collectors Forums.

Given the title, the article likely appeared around 1932 to 1934. The Pacific and "Western" (Redfield) 'no-drill' rear sights were new products at the time of the article's publication.

KCA Member, 'rcathey', generously gave permission to display parts of his post here.

attached: mention of Pacific and Western rear sights from J.R. Mattern article. Graphics of Pacific and Western rear sights and Pacific front-sight.

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'Time-Line' - from various sources, related to the Pacific Gun Sight Company:

1928 - Mr. Walter Joseph Sutton applies for a gun sight patent, #1809257, on May 7, 1928.

1931 - Instruction sheet and sight box, mailed June 4, 1931, marked Pacific Gun Sight Co., 682 Twenty-Fourth Ave., San Francisco, Cal. (a private residence).

1931 - June 9, Sight patent #1,809,257 approved.

1931 - November: American Rifleman article by J.R. Mattern, "The Krag - After 40 Years", reports on Pacific (K-1 & K-2) and Western (Redfield 102K) sights as being recent and new.

1934 - Pacific Gun Sight Company - Catalog No. 8 "Gun Sights - Reloading Tools - Supplies". (Catalog reports that owners are active shooting club members and have been making sights for a number of years, for themselves and other club members).

1936 - Polk Directory, San Francisco: (Walter Joseph Sutton, mech., W.J. Sutton & R.J. Miller Guns, 355 Hayes St.), (Robert J. Miller, Mgr., Robert S. Miller, Sec., Sutton & Miller, residence - 682 24th St.).

1936 - Polk Dir. S.F. - Gunsmith listings: Sutton & Miller, 355 Hayes.

1939 - Polk Dir. S.F. - Pacific Gun Sight Co. (Robert J. and Robert S. Miller) 353 Hayes. (Address is likely a typo. William J. Sutton no longer appears connected to business). 

1948-1949 - Possibly last 'Polk listing' putting Pacific G. S. Co. in San Francisco @ 355 Hayes Street, as well as, Robert J. Miller and Robert S. Miller connected to Pacific G. S. Co. and residing in S.F.

1953 - Gun Digest - last listing of Pacific sights.

1957 - "Guns Magazine" advertisement gives Pacific G. S. Co. address as: 2903 El Comino Real, Palo Alto, Ca. (Likely date of move, between 1949 and 1957).

1962 - "Guns Magazine" advertisement gives Pacific G. S. Co. address as: Box 4495 Dept. G (F), Lincoln, Nebraska. Advertisement totes "Over 30 Years Reloading Tool Leadership". (Hence, before 1962, Pacific Co. had moved out of Cal).

1971 - Hornady Co. acquired Pacific Co., per Hornady Co. history cited by 'Kerz'.

The Western sight ought to be relatively scarce.  It appears that Western Cartridge objected to Redfield's use of Western (The West ain't big enough for the both of us) in the late 20s.  Redfield had already used it nigh 20yrs.  Interesting info BR

You're correct 'Madsenshooter'. The "Western" name on the Redfield "no-drill" sight models was short lived. It was gone by 1934, if not earlier.

(1928 catalog cover contrasted with 1934 catalog pages)

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A bit more Pacific Gun Sight Company trivia:

circa 1929 - The Pacific Gun Sight Company published Catalog No. 7. The company address was 424 Balboa Street, S.F., California.
This was the home address of 'Sight Inventor', Walter J. Sutton and his family, during the 1930 U.S. Census.
(I wonder when catalog #1 was issued)?

I just purchased an original 1943 (wartime) catalog for the Pacific Gun Sight Company. It contains a (partial) drawing, showing the facade of the 355 Hayes St. Store/Shop. There is a cool photograph of the salesroom, 'Den', interior.

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Old 'Gun & Accessory' catalogs are kind of frustrating because they are seldom dated.

Catalog 'numbers' are not too helpful, because it is not easy to determine the frequency at which they were issued.

The content sometimes gives a rough clue: Some sources indicate the Model 52 Winchester got its "speed lock" in 1930.

It is likely Pacific catalog, #7, 'with the latest model' of the 52 Winchester (with speed lock), came out in 1930.

(Catalog #7 uses inventor/machinist - Walter J. Sutton's home address and not the eventual Pacific Company address at 355 Hayes St.).

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I do not know what firm (foundry) made the Pacific press, but the mid-1950s Herter's press is identical.  My single-case ram was for .30-06 head sized cases, but RCBS sold a conversion unit to hold interchangeable shell holders.  Bought a conversion unit in 2007.  Price was $12.50, IIRC.

IIRC - Herter's had their Presses made in the Ruhr Valley area of W. Germany.

So Herter would have simply used the Pacific as a model or pattern?

Possibly, Pacific let the patent expire or sold the rights. A lot of improvements, like quick-change shell holders, had appeared.

Herter's offered a massive range of gear from good to barely adequate. The attraction was Low Price.

The Herter's presses, I remember, had a massive cast-iron lever to operate the ram. They were Battleships!

I have one set of Herter's Dies. They are chrome-plated and cheap looking, but, work OK.

I have some Herter's marked 6.5X55mm Brass (actually made by Norma, but, stamped and packaged for Herter's).

A lot of Herter's stuff was made in Europe. Their catalog was a Hoot! They undercut everybody.

p.s. Back in the 1950's and 1960's, Reloading Equipment and Dies cost serious money! The relative cost went down in the 1970's. (IMHO - Due to companies like LEE and increased competition).