Iver Johnson top break 38 S&W

[buflow]

I obtained a Iver Johnson top break 3rd model in 38 S&W with several guns and accessories at an estate sale. The barrel of the top break had been cut to 3 1/4 inches, cut at a angle and uncrowned. I can recut the barrel at a 90 deg. angle and recrown.
What will be the best way to make and install a front sight? I have thought of silver soldering a cut dime to the rib.
Any suggestions will be appreciated, I would like to get the gun to hit somewhere close to point of aim at several feet, will not do that now.
Thanks for the suggestions and help.

 

[RaceM]

I have resurrected a couple similar guns and can tell you that those super thin front sights can be a real pain to pick up (see) against some backgrounds. I usually go 1/16" thick on the front sight to get around that, blued steel or brass, just soldered on. Odds are good that even re-crowned it won't be super accurate because the lands aren't that sharp or deep (at least on the ones I've played with).

 

[g.willikers]

It sounds like a good point shooting practice gun.
But if you insist on shooting it with a front sight, do you have the sight formula?
If not, it's an easy find on the web.
http://www.jackweigand.com/Point Of Impact Adjustment Formula.html
It's just a comparison of triangles associated with the sight radius, point of aim vs point of impact and distance to the target.
Just aim it as best as possible as is and then apply the formula to determine the height of the sight that's necessary for the distance you want.

If the dime is too narrow, how about silver soldering a half moon key from the hardware store.
The kind used to align pullies onto shafts.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pul...ntent%2Fusing-pulleys-electric-motors;800;561

 

[loose noose]

I used a real copper penny cut in about a 1/3 and silver soldered it on a the front barrel of black powder hand gun with a really short barrel (right at 4"), here about 2-3 years ago with really good results, could get it to print 5 of 6 rounds in the thoracic cavity at 10 yards, and all 6 in at 7 yards. I gave it to my eldest son, who has shot it quite a bit with that same sight still on it.

 

[RaceM]

Yup, that's why I call 'em "across the room" guns. If you can dump all 5 or 6 into a torso target from 20' or less it's good to go.

 

[Jim K]

A nickel makes a better sight as they are basically the same material as the original. Of course, they are bigger and need to be cut down more, but that is no problem. I had a narrow circular cutter which I used to mill a thin slot in the barrel rib, like the original, then fitted the new sight and drilled a hole for a crosspin to hold the sight in.

Jim