Changing the front sight of a '58 Navy

[ojh]

Dear friends,

I need advice for changing the front sight of my .36 caliber Remmie '58 Navy replica. On top of the barrel it says "NAVY ARMS CO RIDGEFIELD N.J.-ITALY". Below the loading lever, there's Uberti's logo and number 83. So I guess it's made by Uberti in 1983. Here's a pic of the gun.

I bought the gun used. The previous owner could have treated it a bit better, but it works OK and prints decent groups - some 22" (!) straight above the POA. For some reason that escapes my imagination, the front sight has been filed down that much.

Of course, I want to change the front sight to a taller one. The sight has what I think is called press fit. It definitely is not dovetailed (that would have been all too easy).

I have already acquired a few spare front sights, see the next pic. These should be meant for Uberti.

Figured out to have three possible ways to move forward:

1) Try to remove the old sight, and attach the new one in its place. How easily should the old sight pop off? Is it just a mechanical press fit, or can it be welded, soldered, glued... and it would be nice to know beforehand if the stud of the new sight would fit into the barrel socket. Do you know, are these studs/sockets the same size in all Ubertis, or is there variation? The sockets of the spare sights measure 5.0mm, or .197".

2) Leave the old sight in its place. File it down even more, till the blade part is completely gone and there's only a flat, round 'plate' left. Take one of the press fit spare sights, file away the socket part. Solder the new sight on top of the stub of old sight.

3) Take the gun to a gunsmith, let him to remove the old sight and fit the dovetailed spare. This was my first intention, but the local 'smith is extremely busy just now, would not be ready before August :-(

So, what do you recommend? 1, 2, 3 or something else? Any suggestion & advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[mykeal]

You have the opposite problem of some Remington owners - a front sight that actually stays in place.

It's a press fit, and the 'socket' should be the same size as the spare sights you have. In any case, the way to proceed is to remove the sight, which should not be difficult as long as the previous owner didn't epoxy it in place. If the 'socket' is a different size you can always choose the default route of going to the gunsmith.

As for installing the new sight - it's unlikely that the press fit will still work, in which case I'd suggest using JB Weld to cement the new one in place.

 

[zoned10x]

> ... should not be difficult as long as the previous owner didn't epoxy it

A bit of heat will nicely undo epoxy or JB Weld, and soft solder, of course. I doubt it has been silver soldered, but if so it should let go when the post gets some color at about 1100F. Use a butane micro torch so you can keep the heat focused on the blade.

 

[sundance44s]

You can normally take a pair of vice grips ..clamp them on the front site and twist and turn and it will pop out ..I`ve done it this way before and then filed the dovetail for the driftable front sight . I like the dovetailed in front sight much better .
Most Uberti Remingtons have the dovetailed sight. Maybe because it`s a Navy it doesn`t ...I don`t have a Navy Remington to compair.

 

[ojh]

Good advice, thank you. Had thought of filing a slot for the dovetailed front sight myself, but abandoned the idea - thought I could make a mess even a gunsmith would be unable to sort out.

I am quite sure this JB Weld is not available in my country. Guess I could use some other 'steel epoxy' or 'chemical metal' product instead?

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Looks more like a Pietta site, Euroarms are dovetailed as is Uberti. Pietta and ASM (Armi San Marcos)Rems are the only ones I know of that have the post type sites. If the Rev has an <FAP> marking inside a diamond it's Pietta,if a mark that looks like you are looking down the end of a barrel it's Uberti.
If the site is silver soldered in, as I would think it would be from the 80's, you might have to use a pencil torch , or heat it enough to melt what holds it. Or weld and grind/file. I'd do a dovetail myself or have it done. I know someone who has done many and frequents this forum from time to time.

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/POWDER/MBPProofmarks.pdf

SG

 

[ojh]

Looks more like a Pietta site, Euroarms are dovetailed as is Uberti. Pietta and ASM (Armi San Marcos)Rems are the only ones I know of that have the post type sites. If the Rev has an <FAP> marking inside a diamond it's Pietta,if a mark that looks like you are looking down the end of a barrel it's Uberti.

It has the Uberti marking for sure.

Just replacing the post sight is tempting because if it works, it appears to be quite simple, and sideways regulation is A-OK already. So I think I'll try that first. Thanks again!

 

[Voodoochile]

I've yet to replace a front sight & I would like to see what your experience is so that I can keep notes because I do have 2 Pietta 58's & I know a few that have a cupple as well so the possibility of requiring a replacement is there & the knowledge will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Leatherbark]

WIth a very small tipped torch you could place some silver solder on the original and build it up higher and file it to shape................Bob