Help With S&W Rear Sight Blade Replacement

[golfusa]

My S&W 357 model 19-3 has a broken rear sight blade. When trying to remove the broken blade the windage screw broke near the head of the screw. I am having trouble getting the old blade out. I've tried tapping it with a hammer but it doesn't want to budge. I suspect the windage nut is keeping that from happening. What's the best way to get the old blade out?

 

[rcmodel]

Well, you are going to have to somehow get the nut off and unscrew the blade off the remaining screw section.

The only way to do that will probably be to perform surgery on the staked-in-place nut with a Dremel tool and small carbide dental bur.

Generally, it is best to do that first thing off the bat, before you break the screw head off.

rc

 

[golfusa]

I figured surgery might be needed. Too bad I didn't follow my mother's advice and become a dentist!
My web research said to turn screw counter-clockside until windage screw broke.
Oh,well.

 

[Nasty]

We used to replace them all the time on our M-15s in SAMTU...just unscrew until the swedge breaks loose, swap in a new blade and restake it. The screw body and head are stronger than the places where it is staked. A 2 minute job.

 

[Racinbob]

Golfusa, that's exactly how it should be done. After the head breaks off (as designed) it should slide out the other way. Be careful not to lose the plunger or spring. It sounds like the blade is bound up in the body. If you have the right tool you could try to unscrew it from the swedged side. You may have to talk to the sight blade a bit. Might help to soak it a little.

 

[rcmodel]

The screw body and head are stronger than the places where it is staked. A 2 minute job.

Apparently his wasn't, because it broke off at the head!

rc

 

[Bailey Boat]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the OP, but the screw head is supposed to break off so the nut, screw shank and blade can slide to the left and be removed from the assembly. The nut is staked to the screw shank, not the assembly housing.
Golf, when you order the new blade you might as well order the windage plunger and spring, if you don't loose one or the other, you eventually will...... Think about dissasembly inside a gallon ZipLoc bag......

 

[golfusa]

I saw a demonstration video for doing this job by MidwayUSA on youtube(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_sDPh18Z08).
Looks like the screw was supposed to break near the nut and then everything comes out the right side.
I did catch the detent and spring in a plastic bag.
Do y'all think I can get it out the left side by driving it through from the right? Or do I need to drill or grind down the staked nut?
I assume it's best to take the whole rear sight assembly off at this point.
Maybe I should just get a replacement rear sight assembly?

 

[Oro]

Do y'all think I can get it out the left side by driving it through from the right?

Yes, but just use a small enough pin punch that you don't mar the sight body. Then reinstall with a new sight blade and screw/nut, staking the screw end to the nut as mentioned above.

Maybe I should just get a replacement rear sight assembly?

You can, but those are about $65 and a new blade and screw/nut are about $20 total. S&W sells them and I think also Numrich's.

 

[golfusa]

This was my first day on THR. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Oro]

Oh, PS golfusa -

The sight blades are not all the same. There are commonly three sizes and what your gun uses depends not only on frame size and barrel length, but also caliber/model in some cases. best bet is to either measure the one you have and buy the same, or just call S&W and tell them what you are doing and they will set you up with the right one.

 

[Jim K]

Never work on those sights without having a new windage screw and nut on hand. I have gotten them off without breaking the screw but actually, it is supposed to break.

Jim