Browning 1885, to scope or not

[PotatoJudge]

I have a very nice, excellent condition Browning 1885 Traditional Hunter in 45 Colt with nicely figured wood, factory aperture sight, brass bead front sight, and a Marbles folding rear sight. The barrel is half octagon, half round.

I love the gun, but don't find myself hunting with it much because of the open sight limitations- namely limited range and more importantly limited utility in fading light.

My question is this: since weaver base sections are easy to attach to the front of the receiver and the barrel, should I have them installed and put a small fixed 4 or 6 power scope on it (I have an old 6x Zeiss that would be perfect) or should I appreciate it for what it is and just accept that it won't get used as much?

 

[9 fingers]

normally I would say leave it in traditional mode, but at 57 with bifocals I am a big fan of scopes and actually seeing what I am going to shoot at.
9 fingers

 

[browningguy]

I put the 3x William Malcolm repro scope on mine in 45-70.

 

[urbaneruralite]

I'd enjoy the rifle for what it is, and use something else for when I'm serious about making meat.

 

[justin22885]

how about a reproduction 19th century style scopes?.. you know, the long skinny ones?.. it would retain its traditional 19th century look but give you a magnified optic

the optic browningguy suggested is such a scope.. so one of those would look right on the rifle and give you what you want

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-250hV-Ecnqo/T49jFTHMpoI/AAAAAAAAAoM/QHRtd-NngHc/s1600/buffalo+hunt+065.jpg