The Most Important Error the FBI told the Warren Commission about the Rifle

[Drew Phipps]

In order to calculate anything for the open sights, we need to establish how high the notch in the rear sight is above the centreline of the barrel.

From Mike Yardle, Positive Shooting: (open sights) " The gun was 6 feet or more off target at 100 yards. Frank and I thought it a waste of time considering the open sights from this point on - it was evident to both of us that Oswald could not have used them unless his hits were pure chance - anyone who suggests otherwise has no practical experience of the Carcano."

Are the open sights adjustable, or fixed at the factory?

Using the NARA photo it looks to me like the tip of the sight at the end of the barrel is .69 inches above the center of the barrel, and the top of the notch site is .85 inches above the centerline of the barrel. gonna see if I can estimate the depth of the notch...

Best I can get from the available photos is that the bottom of the rear notch would be from .49 to .53 inches above the centerline of the barrel, but this is really approaching the limit of digital photo uncertainty, namely that one pixel is basically the difference. Would the lowest point of the rear notch be ~.5 inches and the tip of the end sight be ~.85 inches?

Heck, maybe the shooter just shut his eyes.