New .44 Spl

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
The person at Smith and Wesson who thought of putting an identifying mark on the box of the revolvers that passed their test instead of any identifying mark on the revolver should be fired.
At a minimum, they should have recorded the S/N's of the revolvers that " passed " their test.

There are many revolvers with no box.

Ben
 
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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have purchased a used firearm that had a box. I don’t keep the box for most that I purchase.
 

Wiresguy

Active Member
The person at Smith and Wesson who thought of putting an identifying mark on the box of the revolvers that passed their test instead of any identifying mark on the revolver should be fired.
At a minimum, they should have recorded the S/N's of the revolvers that " passed " their test.

There are many revolvers with no box.

Ben

I concur, Ben. No logic whatsoever to not mark the gun or keep a serial number database.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
That Ray-Bar front sight GOTS TO GO. Esta mui feo! Outside of that, gorgeous example.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I love them in green fiber optic but it MUST have a square top.
You know, it came in a appropriate box, will see if it is marked.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I'll probably make my own front sight....but only after checking to see if somebody
makes what I want at a reasonable price.
I will look for the "C" on the box, and any indication that this is THE box, not A box. Many
have the SN and such on the box.

Bill
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
OK, Brad, how high does the stock front sight project above the SS bbl ramp?
And is it the right height or would it be higher or lower if you were starting over?

Bill
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I have that same sight on my 624 [45 acp 4" barrel] the holes in the paper are always behind the green dot.
really close to the top of the dot but still behind it.
I'm okay with that since it's our main '7 yard gun' around the place.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I want this for a target gun more than anything. So I really want a good sight picture. I need
everything going for me to be able to shoot good groups these days, so can't have the sight like
that for this purpose. If it were for SD, I'd live with it, but not for target shooting.

Bill
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
ITS, it looks like it was not shot much at all. The best way I know to tell with revolvers is to look at
the recoil sheild. This one is absolutely unmarked, even moderate use would change the original
light horizontal scratch pattern from final grinding, and this is unmarked. If I had to bet, I would bet on under
100 rounds, maybe way under, like one box. I could be wrong, but usually the recoil shield will show a
brightened, worn ring if much shooting has been done, from case heads smacking it. High round count
guns have a polished area there.
Nary a trace.
Also, essentially zero crud above the bbl extension in the frame window. Most folks don't work hard cleaning
out the last traces of grung there, and this one has absolutely no grung up on the top. There is about a
.005 gap from the bbl exterior to the top of the frame, near as hell impossible to clean. It is open and
clear, probably has never been filled up, YET. :)

Bill
 
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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
OK, Brad, how high does the stock front sight project above the SS bbl ramp?
And is it the right height or would it be higher or lower if you were starting over?

Bill
Can you wait a week? I am out of town until next Friday. I am in Maine for work.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I gotta agree on the front sight . . . What could they have been thinking. :confused:

That' it's the latest fad and will sell guns.

Good for you Bill! Not my material of choice, but then it's not my gun. ;) Hope you get lots of shooting out of it.
 
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fiver

Well-Known Member
I had to change mine out to the green dot sight.
you just drift out 1-2 pins and it's a drop in exchange.
I looked for the original for a bit last night and couldn't find it, I was gonna measure it, or just send it along to Bill so he could.
but I can't find it, which bugs me because I'm pretty good about saving stuff like that.
 

Intel6

Active Member
That looks like a "Hi-Viz" front sight due tot he size of the fiber optic cylinder on it. Ugh, change it out asap. If you want a fiber optic sight that looks good and is well made look at Dawson. He makes different sight blades (heights and widths) for S&W revolvers that are well made and give a great sight picture. Go to the links and hit the drop down and see how many height and width options are offered. These are nice serrated target type blades. He offers both pin in and the removable S&W options. These are great front blades, I have them on many of my revolvers.

Dawson regular front blade

If you like a fiber optic like I do then here you go:

FO front blade
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
The Dawson sights are OK, but unnecessarily complicated with that flat flange, and the FO light
pipe is small diam, which means it will gather less light.

I could just make one. Far simpler than the Ruger 1911 Commander front sight that I made,
since it is just a flat slab. I made this one, and I like how it turned out. Good square, black frame
for accurate shooting, and the bright green dot for quick shooting, or finding it against a low contrast
background.

Ruger frt sight 01.jpg
 
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Pistolero

Well-Known Member
No rush Brad. If I get in a hurry, I can figure it out fairly easily.

So, how is May in Maine? I am betting cold and damp....like most of the rest of the year there.

Bill
 

S Mac

Sept. 10, 2021 Steve left us. You are missed.
I'm no machinist but maybe drill the hole before you put the taper on it?
 
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Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Well, only if I was smart and planned better.:rolleyes: The good news is that with a mill and a
center drill, everything is stiff enough for it to work....but that doesn't mean it is the best way
to do it, for certain.

Actually the difficult part is getting the hole exactly in the middle, right to left. The eye
will see it if it is more than a couple thousandths off, and I know it would drive ME crazy and
force me to scrap it. So, edge finding and measuring carefully are a requirement. A bit high
is bad, but a touch low is OK.

The first everything is a learning experience, and I hope to do better the next time.:)

Bill
 
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S Mac

Sept. 10, 2021 Steve left us. You are missed.
If left and right is the problem drill the hole before thinning the blade, shave toward the hole.