The Skinner Black Gold Express Sight is our classiest look at Skinner Sights.
This sight goes beyond function without sacrificing quality and durability. Based in Montana, Skinner Sights was founded by a genius because of a lack of durability. Dr. Tim Skinner was hunting on horseback with his Marlin carbine in a scabbard. On two occasions his sight failed, so he designed one that wouldn’t break. With this first “Skinner Sight,” he laid the foundation for the Skinner business which he sold to my father, Andy Larsson a couple years later.
I was leaving the house a few years ago while my in-laws were visiting. I grabbed a rifle and headed out the door. My younger brother-in-law asked my wife if I was going hunting. Her reply? “No, he’s just leaving the house.” In other words, this is just normal life for us. We live with guns. We have Grizzly bears in our yards, mountain lions travel the creeks behind our houses, and there is ever a starling or a coyote that is endangering civilized life. The very life we live illustrates why Andy was the perfect fit for advancing Dr. Skinner’s design and legacy.
What he designs must work. He is also offended by sights that lack aesthetics, looking like a blister on your rifle. He streamlined Skinner’s design and called it the Express sight. Then, to compliment the Marlin’s gold trigger, why not put a brass windage insert into a blued sight…and call it the “BLACK GOLD EXPRESS.” This feature would quickly become a Skinner Sights trademark.
The Black Gold Express uses two screw holes to mount the sight to the action of the rifle utilizing the existing sight mounting holes on the gun. The aperture and stem are screwed into a dovetail insert that can be moved right or left and locked down with a set screw. This usually takes minimal adjustment to bring a rifle to zero. The aperture stem is then screwed up or down, in half turn increments to adjust for elevation then locked in place with a set screw from the side.
How & Who
Design
Skinner Sights uses solid bar and round stock for all its aperture rear and front sights. None of these sights are made of aluminum. (We do make optic and light rails out of aluminum to save weight). Each bar is cut to length in a bandsaw, then fixtured and cut in precision CNC machinery. Currently, Andy’s CNC (Computer Numerical Control) code programs are handwritten. He writes the g-code programs manually without CAD or CAM. The CNC machine then makes the various cuts, changing tools as it progresses until finally, the green light blinks. Next part, Please!
Bar stock to rough part
Paul is a veteran who pumps thousands of Skinner Sight blanks out of barstock every year.
Paul is a multi-tour Middle East Veteran and local from the valley who keeps the machines running. His job is to take big pieces of steel or brass and turn them into smaller pieces. When he is done, the ends have been radiused, the dovetails have been cut, the tops sloped, and the holes are drilled and then either tapped or counterbored. Paul is a machine. He gets a lot done.
Aside from the Express blank, Paul runs the inserts so that they are beveled to fit the dovetail. Each of these has three holes that are tapped. One program and fixture drills and taps two of the holes while another operation drills and taps the side set screw hole.
Fitting and tapping
The rough sight now goes to Danny over at the fitting station. Danny, also a Veteran, pours his attention (maybe even love) into each sight. Some of them need tapping for which machine tapping wasn’t the best option, and some of them need the bottoms concaved. Danny takes an insert blank and hand fits it to the dovetail with learned skill and attention to detail. A thousandth of an inch matters here. That is 0.001 of an inch. If you don’t get that just right, the insert is undersized and will not work. (For example, a human hair is approximately .004”). Every sight with a dovetail is hand fit. Slop is not an option where durability and accuracy are on the line.
Sanding
Any surface that needs a fixturing mark removed or needs blended, is hand sanded. Julian and Ian (brothers) have touched hundreds of thousands of parts as they put their eye to the quality of each sight. Having sanded a decent amount my own self, this is a very ticklish skill. Keeping the angle straight. Not sanding off too much, leaving crisp clean lines, and smooth even transitions.
A little bit of this, and a little bit of that, for a little bit of magic.
Finishing
Our final finisher is Keifer. He makes sure the parts are tumbled to soften sharp edges and blend the finish. Keifer blues the steel parts and this is a bit of a trick when it comes to hand fit dovetail parts. Each one is disassembled prior to bluing. For the BLACK GOLD “EXPRESS” sights, he keeps track of which brass insert goes to each sight he is about to run through the bluing process. He can’t scratch the sight or the dovetail insert after sanding and tumbling or it must be resanded and the process starts over. Keifer also runs the aperture lathe that makes 5 different sizes of apertures. After the CNC lathe sizes, threads and drills the aperture, Keifer does a second manual counterbore operation creating the “hood” to reduce sun glare.
Eye candy for your rifle.
Engraving/Assembling/Packaging
A few of our Sights have our maker’s mark engraved into the metal while curing in the CNC machine. However, most of them are laser engraved by our assembling crew. We also do custom engraving for a fee. When assembling the sights, the adjustment and mounting screws are put in place. Each one is then packaged with the correct wrenches and instructions. This packaging takes up minimal space and protects the part during shipping. Catherine and Ashley see to the assembling and packaging.
Shipping
This article is about making the sight. However, at this point we can’t leave our shippers/painters/office crew out. Rikki and Catherine do a great job getting your sight to you. You don’t get your sight without them!
Customer Service
When you purchase a Skinner Sight, Rob is an essential part of the package. He is our customer service guru. Every gun is slightly different, as is every ammunition load, and shooter combination. Helping you regulate the sights to ensure dead on accuracy is Rob’s forte. If you have a question, give Skinner Sights a call (1-406-745-4570) and you will get Rob to walk you through how to get your rifle to shoot like you want it to. He knows how tall your front sight needs to be…
Everything explained above is done in a shop, just outside of Saint Ignatius, Montana. Accurate, beautiful, and rugged, the Skinner Black Gold sight is more than just eye candy, it provides the precision needed to ensure your success on the range and in the field.
- By Dan Larsson
The Hunting Wire’s “Maker Series” takes you behind the scenes with the people who create the gear hunters and shooters rely on. Instead of talking about new gadgets, we focus on - and celebrate - the machinists, engineers, designers, builders, and the decision-makers in our industry. Want to share your Maker Series story? Reach out - jay@theoutdoorwire.com
FAIR CHASE, as defined by the Boone and Crockett Club, is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage over the game animals.
Last month we celebrated Earth Day, but the reality is that hunters have had a deep connection to conservation and our great outdoors for generations. That conservation ethic — grounded with a code of principles called Fair Chase — helped restore America’s wildlife and wild places a century ago and sustain them to this day.
However, the future of hunting and the conservation of wildlife in North America depends on the next generation of hunters upholding these principles. For those new to hunting, spring is the best time to plan for next year’s hunting season, and the Boone and Crockett Club’s online Fair Chase and Hunting Ethics course teaches this foundation before they head to the field.
New hunters in all states need to take a hunter’s education course that provides top level information about our conservation history and teaches about hunting regulations and safety.
In addition, the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Project ChildSafe has an interactive Future Hunter’s Pledgemodule for parents and kids to go through together to learn and discuss firearm safety and responsible hunting.
The Fair Chase and Hunting Ethics course created by the Boone and Crockett Club adds to these core curriculums. The approximately hour-long module develops a stronger foundation of safety, conservation commitment and ethics that will enhance the individual’s hunting experience while ensuring the future of our hunting traditions.
The free course walks through the experience of two new hunters who learn about the rich tradition of Fair Chase, helping them understand responsible and ethical hunting. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a certificate of achievement and a free “Hunt Fair Chase” challenge coin to carry with them as a reminder of their commitment to ethical hunting.
“The concept of Fair Chase is just as important today as it was over a century ago,” said Tony Schoonen, chief executive officer of the Boone and Crockett Club. “Most Americans are neither pro-hunting nor anti-hunting, most are on the fence. As hunters, we are all ambassadors for our sport. When we hunt ethically, we will garner more support from the public and help ensure our hunting heritage continues for generations into the future.”
With a degree in wildlife, Jodi Stemler brings a foundation in ecology to her freelance writing and her work as a communications and policy consultant for national hunting conservation organizations, including the Boone and Crockett Club. She lives in Colorado with her husband, daughter, and bird dog and they love to hunt birds and big game across the West.
The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund has surpassed $1 million in grants supporting the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®), funding youth archery, outdoor education, and conservation programming. Founded by Johnny Morris, the initiative helps schools access archery equipment and introduces students to outdoor recreation and lifelong conservation values.
New Mexico archers achieved exceptional results at the 2026 NASP® Western National Bullseye Tournament, with Ashlynn McGinnis finishing 7th nationally and Hugo Hashagen placing 4th among all middle school boys. The state's programs demonstrated significant growth across elementary, middle, and high school divisions with multiple top-50 national finishes.
Benelli has been awarded the 2025 Gold Choice Award by Shooting Sports Retailer readers, recognizing the brand's commitment to performance and innovation. The award reflects the collective judgment of independent retailers across the shooting sports industry who voted through a comprehensive online process.
Federal Ammunition received the 2025 Gold Award for Best Shotshell from readers of Tactical Retailer and Shooting Sports Retailer. The award recognizes Federal's commitment to quality, performance, and innovation across its shotshell product lines, including Gold Medal, Black Cloud, Prairie Storm, and Custom Shop TSS loads.
German Precision Optics (GPO USA) announced that its GPO CENTURI™ 4-16x44i Super-Compact Riflescope received the 2026 NRA American Hunter Golden Bullseye Award. Owner/CEO Mike Jensen praised the riflescope as a game-changer offering compact, high-magnification performance at an affordable price point.
CCI has been awarded the 2026 Gold Award for Rimfire Ammunition by Tactical Retailer and Shooting Sports Retailer readers. The reader-driven awards recognize CCI's quality, performance, and innovation in rimfire products as the industry's top choice.
Liberty Safe earned multiple Gold awards at industry Readers' Choice programs, including recognition from Shooting Sports Retailer, Tactical Retailer, and Predator Xtreme. The awards reflect votes from independent firearm retailers and consumers recognizing the company's commitment to quality and American craftsmanship in gun safe manufacturing.
Team Mathews delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 Camp Minden ASA, securing three Pro division wins and eleven podium finishes overall. Kyle Douglas, Chris Perkins, and Bodie Turner swept the Men's Known Pro division, while Randy Morocco and Jack Wallace claimed top spots in their respective senior divisions. The team's depth was evident across multiple divisions including women's and open categories.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. successfully hosted the Koenig-Ruger PRS Match in Grand Junction, CO, with 100 competitive shooters participating. Team Ruger's Lauryl Akenhead earned first place in the Production division and second High Lady using a Ruger Custom Shop Precision Rifle chambered in 6mm GT.
The 2026 NASP® Western National Tournament at Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah welcomed 2,397 Bullseye archers and 2,130 NASP® 3D archers from hundreds of schools across multiple states. The three-day event featured pin trading, app-based scavenger hunts, and showcased the continued growth of in-school archery programs.
Whitetails Unlimited granted $13,535 to the Spring Grove Lions High School Clay Target Club in Minnesota through its Staying on Target Program. The co-ed team, established in 2016, serves students from 6th grade through high school seniors and competes in trap and 5 stand disciplines.
XS Sights now offers fiber optic sights and optic plates for the HK VP9 pistol, featuring USA-made steel construction with advanced fiber optic technology for exceptional daylight brightness. The products include interchangeable fiber optic inserts and CNC-machined optic plates compatible with ACRO and RMR footprint optics.
Hawke Optics has launched the Vantage IR 3x32 Rimfire scope, designed for .17 HMR, .22LR, and .22 WMR cartridges. Featuring a one-inch monotube chassis, multi-coated lenses, and L4A Dot reticle with red/green illumination, the scope offers clarity and durability at an MSRP of $99 and includes Weaver match scope mounts.
WOOX, an Italian-American gunstock manufacturer based in Hickory, NC, has launched the Bravado "Grey Laminate" line of stocks designed for Henry and Marlin lever-action rifles. The precision-engineered stocks feature grey and black laminate construction with adjustable cheek risers and M-LOK compatibility, priced from $329 to $549.
BANISH Suppressors announced the launch of two new stainless-steel models: the BANISH VRMT 223 SS and BANISH HNT 30 SS, both priced at $579. Designed by Founder and CEO Brandon Maddox, these fully welded suppressors offer sound and recoil reduction while maintaining affordability and are made in the USA.
Ani-Logics Outdoors launched four new food plot blends: Rack & Roost (sorghum for heavy browsing), Rapid Rack (clovers and wheat developed with Lee Lakosky), Double Decker (brassicas for season-long attraction), and Trophy Plot (soil-health booster producing 25% more biomass than untreated controls).
Galco has expanded its Auto Pistol Outdoorsman (APO) Belt Holster line to accommodate 4.25" 1911s with carry-style optics. The premium steerhide holster features strongside or crossdraw positioning, glove-friendly retention strap, and tension screw adjustment, available in black or tan.
Millennium Outdoors introduces the Field Pro and Run N' Gun Turkey Seats, designed for comfort and stability during turkey hunts. Both models feature ComfortMAX seat fabric, powder-coated aluminum frames, and adjustable carry straps. CEO Ed Welsh emphasizes the seats' superior quality and performance for serious turkey hunters.
Chiappa Firearms introduces the Bushranger M1-22 Semi-Auto, a .22 LR rimfire rifle featuring a 16.5-inch barrel, full-length Picatinny rail, and M-LOK accessory interface. Weighing 5.43 pounds with modern mounting capabilities and traditional wood furniture, the rifle is designed for recreational shooting and skill development with an MSRP of $499.00.
Ohio's Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife reported that hunters checked 4,646 wild turkeys during the opening weekend of spring hunting season in the south zone on April 25. Youth hunters in the northeast zone tagged 119 birds, bringing Ohio's youth season total to 2,058 turkeys.
Steiner Optics has launched the eDiscovery 10x42 binoculars, featuring integrated 4K camera technology, 12MP image capture, and the Steiner Connect 2.0 app for seamless Wi-Fi connectivity and live streaming capabilities in the field.
The HeadHunters NW Podcast features Nathan Schueth, Director of Sales and Business Development at HK USA, discussing his career path from the Marine Corps to the firearms industry. HK USA is recruiting a National Sales Manager for Commercial Sales as the company plans to double its U.S. operations over the next several years.
Brian "Pigman" Quaca returns for Season 17 of "Pigman: The Series" on Sportsman Channel, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET. The season features hunts at CUS Outdoors in Arkansas, EP's Hardwood Outdoors in Oklahoma, and New Mexico, with Pigman joined by his wife Junie and son JD pursuing wild boar and other game.
Henry Repeating Arms introduced a limited-edition Sesquicentennial Rifle to celebrate the Massachusetts Rifle Association's 150th anniversary. The Golden Boy platform rifle is priced at $690, with a portion of sales donated to the MRA to support shooting sports promotion at their historic Walnut Hill range in Woburn, Massachusetts.
Blaser Group appointed Josh McBrayer as Chief Executive Officer of its U.S. operations. McBrayer brings over a decade of experience with the company, including four years as Director of Shotgun Sales and previous roles in Germany. He will oversee Blaser, Mauser, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, John Rigby & Co., Liemke Thermal Optics, and Minox Optics.
Pursuit Channel highlights world champion angler Scott Martin and his acclaimed series The Scott Martin Challenge, a dynamic fishing program featuring head-to-head competitions in exotic destinations. The show airs weekly on Pursuit Channel and streams on Pursuit UP across 120+ million users on multiple platforms.
Zanders, a premier national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, announced it is now a stocking distributor for One Horse firearms and accessories. The partnership expands Zanders' product offering, providing dealers access to One Horse's 100% American Made AR precision firearms and components.
Sportsman's Guide, a South St. Paul-based outdoor retailer operating for over 40 years, has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised the partnership, highlighting Sportsman's Guide's commitment to providing hunting, fishing, and camping products at affordable prices.
NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is accepting applications through May 25, 2026, for its Patron Member Scholarship Program offering $50,000 in total funding for up to 20 winners. Employees of NSSF Patron Member companies and their eligible family members pursuing undergraduate or vocational degrees can apply, with awards ranging from $8,000 for the grand prize to $2,000 for runner-up scholarships.
ATN Corp. announces the TICO 6 Thermal Clip-On, a next-generation thermal device that mounts in front of existing daytime riflescopes to provide thermal hunting capability in seconds. Designed for hog hunters, predator hunters, and night hunters, the TICO 6 preserves shooters' preferred optics and rifle setups while adding thermal detection for low-light and nighttime hunting.
Real Avid, the leader in DIY for Guns®, offers premium gun cleaning chemicals including Tri-Max® CLP, Bore-Max® Bore Foam, Foul-Out® Gunk Blaster, Gun-Max® Gun Oil, and the new Gun-Max® Grease designed for firearm maintenance and reliability.
Davidsons and Hi-Point Firearms unveiled an exclusive limited-edition Burnt Bronze HP22 Hush-Point 22 suppressor available through Davidsons to dealers nationwide. The lightweight, user-serviceable rimfire suppressor features an aluminum body, 17-4 stainless steel host cap, and distinctive burnt bronze Cerakote finish, weighing just 4.9 ounces.
The Project ChildSafe Foundation announced winners of its 2026 Safety Sweepstakes, which raised funds for the NSSF's firearm safety education program. Nearly 3,000 donors participated, with prizes including firearms from Colt and Beretta, gun safes, and training courses from Gunsite Academy.
Team Beretta earned four podium finishes at the 2026 World English Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio, Texas. Connor Daniel won Junior Team Champion, Anthony Matarese, Jr. placed third in FITASC, Desirae Edmunds secured third in the Lady division, and Joseph Fanizzi claimed the 5-Stand Champion title.
SoundGear, a hearing protection technology leader manufactured by Starkey, announced a national sponsorship of the USA Clay Target League to support youth shooting sports athletes' safety and hearing health. The partnership aims to provide advanced hearing protection to over 56,000 students across 2,000 school-approved teams nationwide.
Connecticut Valley Arms/BPI Outdoors will continue its support of Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor, announced WTU President Jeff Schinkten. CVA, founded in 1971, manufactures muzzleloading rifles and hunting equipment, emphasizing reliability and value for hunters.
Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey Cianciarulo invite viewers to their 26th season of The Choice on Pursuit Channel, beginning May 4th. The family hunts Osceola turkeys in Florida with Browning's Shaundi at Osceola Outfitters, attempting to achieve the Grand Slam in one spring.
Outdoor Sportsman Group premieres Arctic Untamed, presented by Hornady and Leupold in partnership with Petersen's HUNTING. The film follows David Draper, Seth Swerczek, and Shawn Skipper on a wolf hunting expedition across Canada's Northwest Territories to support barren-ground caribou conservation efforts.
MyOutdoorTV launches the "Just Dropped Channel," a live streaming channel featuring all-new episodes from popular shows including Bone Collector with Michael Waddell, Everything Eichler with Fred Eichler, Jim Shockey's Shock Therapy, MeatEater Hunts, Pigman: The Series, and Tracks Across Africa, available 24/7 to subscribers.
