Adjustable sights on a non equipped gun?

[Bqnestle]

Here's what I want to do...

Get a 3" barreled model 10 and mill the top of the strap for better sights, like Cylinder and Slides Extreme Duty sights. After looking close at a few guns, I think it's possible. Mill a shallow channel and drill 2 holes.

my other choice would be to get a 4" model 67 and shorten the barrel.

I'd like a 3" K frame but I want better sights. I can do either job at work so getting the actual work done isnt' the problem. Do you fine folks think that the machined gun would be ok and not come apart?

Thanks
Brad

 

[ugaarguy]

I'm sure Old Fuff or XavierBreath will be here shortly to tell you the gunsmithing specifics. Until then may I suggest taking a look at a 2&1/2" Bbl M66? I've had one for a few days and really like it. I think there are options other than modifying a M10 to get what you want; I'm sure the real S&W aficionados will help you out.

 

[Bqnestle]

Thought about going that route, just checking out my options.

Thanks for the info

Brad

 

[Brian Williams]

I really like the way a fixed sight top strap sight looks, but the front sights are good service sights and if you are fuzzy in the eye sight department they leave a lot to be desired. Some people all you need to do is mill of the front sight and cut a dovetail so you can change out the front sight with a gold bead or (yech) a firesight pipe. I would like to have the front sight on my 65 Pencil barrel milled off and a dovetailed front blade installed with a gold bead. This would still give me a nice smooth top strap and allow windage adjustment other than sending it to S&W and have them billet bend it or have some smith twist the barrel.

One of the problems with adding a rear sight to the top strap, you will end up with a higher sight plane than the original and this requires a taller front sight. This tends to mess with the nice clean and compact lines of a fixed sight gun and could "interfere" with your draw times etc.


Oh, one more thing.. You will be taking a $300 to $400 gun spending $100 to $400 on it and making it into a $200 custom gun, unless you send it to a Noteworthy gunsmith and have good documentation.

 

[wixedmords]

Here's what I want to do...

Get a 3" barreled model 10 and mill the top of the strap for better sights, like Cylinder and Slides Extreme Duty sights. After looking close at a few guns, I think it's possible. Mill a shallow channel and drill 2 holes.

my other choice would be to get a 4" model 67 and shorten the barrel.

I'd like a 3" K frame but I want better sights. I can do either job at work so getting the actual work done isnt' the problem. Do you fine folks think that the machined gun would be ok and not come apart?

Thanks
Brad

If it were me I would try to leave as much material as I could so not to weaken the top strap. I would then look for a low-ride type of rear adjustable sight. There may even be something out there that is a low-ride type that only requires a few little tapped screws. No matter what you do you will likely need to remove some material.

This question is going to make me think a while on what is out there for this issue.

EDIT: Bo-mar has some stuff you can look at. It may be too bulky, but worth a look.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=395983

Wichita makes a full rib sight also.
http://www.wichitaarms.com/images/WichitaRibSightsS&W.jpg

This may get too pricey. If it were me, I am not sure I would mod the top strap, and these full rib models are likely to cost over $100.00 without the machining fees. Might be easier to go to a model 15.

 

[Bqnestle]

I don't think it will take much to do...go to S&W's site and look at the profiles of the 64 and 67. I bet they are the same basic frame, just one is machined for an adjustable sight and one is machined for a fixed sight.

The main thing I'm looking to do is a bigger rear sight picture. I love my 642 and 37 but the rear sight is lacking. I could do some simple machine work on the that and open it up some but it's not what I'm looking for in the long run.

I swear I've seen this done before somewhere years ago, I just can't remember where now. I threw out a metric ton of gun mags years ago when I moved in with my wife, I bet it was in one of those now that I think about it.

The height of the sights doesn't bother me, it will be a holster carried gun. If this was being done on my Barami HipGrip equipped 37, I'd have to think about it.

Thanks for the comments on this. I'm still thinking on what exactly to do for the gun I want.

Brad

 

[Bqnestle]

Just found this on C&S's site

Installation Cost:
Installation on new Smith &Wesson Revolver


On old style Smith & Wesson Revolver ( The old Style Revolver Requires drilling and tapping the two holes that retain the rear sight. $112.00

so they do it, wonder if they machine out a channel for the sight to sit in?

This is driving me nuts...

 

[Jim March]

You could do similar to my "Vaqhawk" (Ruger New Vaquero with upgraded sights):

 

[wixedmords]

Just found this on C&S's site

Installation Cost:
Installation on new Smith &Wesson Revolver


On old style Smith & Wesson Revolver ( The old Style Revolver Requires drilling and tapping the two holes that retain the rear sight. $112.00

so they do it, wonder if they machine out a channel for the sight to sit in?

This is driving me nuts...

Actually, the C&S looks like a viable option. It would be nice to get a closer look to see how much material they machined out. Request more information from them.

 

[BluesBear]

Or you could search out an elusive 3" Model 19 or 66?

Or, if you're set on a .38 special contact S&W and see if they have any 3" model 66 barrels left that they would fit onto a 67 frame.
They also have 2½" M66 barrels in stock.

Fixed sight 3" K-frames are getting so scarce and desirable that it might be cheaper to alter a 4" if you must have adjustable sights.

 

[Brian Williams]

Here is what C&S is going to charge for the installation of the their Extreme duty fixed rear sight which needs a new front sight because the rear sight will be too high.

SR058 - C and S Extreme Duty Fixed Rear Sight with Dovetail Front Installed on a Strap Fixed Sight - K - L or N Frame
SR058
Custom Work - Price Includes Installation by Cylinder and Slide.

Price: $271.50

 

[Jim Watson]

Hamilton Bowen makes a high visibility fixed rear sight for J-Smiths.
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/NEW/SWpackages.htm
Go to the bottom of the page.
I don't see any reason you couldn't put one on a K but it would be narrower than the topstrap and not look as neat.
Ross Carter used to make one like that but does not show it on his current site and did not reply to my inquiry.

If you put a bigger rear sight you will have to put on a taller front sight to match. If you cut off a longer barrelled adjustable sight model like a 67, all you have to do is cut, crown, and put on a front sight.
SDM does a neat job you could copy.
http://www.sdmfabricating.com/4_conversion.html

 

[Bqnestle]

Been thinking about the 19 route too. I dug around on gunbroker.com and looked at a few...hmmm.

My first thought was the 67 and cut the barrel done. Think I'll go that way.

thanks guys!
Brad