Making a new red insert for smith and Wesson

[shoebox1.1]

So I’m 99% sure I’m getting a pre lock 686 four inch pretty soon but the gun has an aftermarket insert in the front blade. I would like to take it back to a stock red insert. I see the kit at brownells for like 75.00 and doesn’t look too hard to do. Anyone made or replaced the insert? Do they have small holes vertically to hold the insert?

 

[Pat Riot]

A friend of mine used that kit on his S&W. I recall him saying that he had to do it twice because he didn’t clean the sight well enough the first time. He wasn’t happy with the results but it looked fine to me. I think he was hoping for perfection.

I personally have not used that kit.

Have you considered replacing the sight? It’s actually not that hard.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100445330/

 

[shoebox1.1]

I didn’t know it was pinned. I didn’t see a pin in the photos I’ve been given. That would be best option. Thanks!! Could I find one in stainless possibly?

 

[StrawHat]

If you want the revolver for a shooting piece, I would caution against a stainless steel sight. They came with black blades, at least mine did, for a reason.

Why do you want a stainless blade?


Kevin

 

[357 Terms]

I didn’t know it was pinned. I didn’t see a pin in the photos I’ve been given. That would be best option. Thanks!! Could I find one in stainless possibly?

It's probably not pinned.
The 686-5 is the only pre lock variant that had a pinned sight.
Short of having expensive machining done to have a new sight installed, the insert change is your cheapest option.

 

[UncleEd]

Eh, get some nail polish, red, and paint the black sight'.
In aiming the gun, results will be the same. And that's
what counts.

 

[JDeere]

Eh, get some nail polish, red, and paint the black sight'.
In aiming the gun, results will be the same. And that's
what counts.

Yep so much easier. I use fluorescent orange or green and if you don't like it fingernail polish remover is your friend...

 

[earlthegoat2]

That Brownells kit seems horrifically overpriced and that is coming from someone who has a full compliment of Snap-On tools and quite the assortment of Brownells own gunsmithing tools.

It seems like some epoxy, dye, and a little research and experimenting would yield an equivalent result.

 

[trackskippy]

I did it back in the 90's on a couple of guns, but went with flat black instead of orange on black sights, as I preferred the black sights at the time and didnt like their orange inserts.

Before you spend $75 on the kit, you may want to just try mixing the color paint of your choice with 5 minute epoxy, and use that. I used Testors model paint. I just taped off the sides of the notch and filled it from the top. Let it set and shaved the excess off with an X-Acto knife. Worked great.

 

[shoebox1.1]

But this aftermarket sight sticks way up in the air and looks horrible. It has to be GONE. I’ll figure something out when I get the gun. Thanks!

 

[trackskippy]

Just knock it out, clean up the notch and refill it flush.

Is whats in there rubbery or plastic? You may be able to just shave it down to shape with a razor, unless you want another color.

 

[thirty-eight]

Might check with Smith & Wesson to see what they charge?

 

[Biblethumpncop]

View attachment 1143412 So I’m 99% sure I’m getting a pre lock 686 four inch pretty soon but the gun has an aftermarket insert in the front blade. I would like to take it back to a stock red insert. I see the kit at brownells for like 75.00 and doesn’t look too hard to do. Anyone made or replaced the insert? Do they have small holes vertically to hold the insert?

Is that a tritium night sight insert?

 

[earlthegoat2]

Before you spend $75 on the kit, you may want to just try mixing the color paint of your choice with 5 minute epoxy, and use that. I used Testors model paint.

Im not sure what Testors is but an acetone based paint or dye would be what you would want to use with epoxy. However, the Testors worked great for you so that would be a good place for the OP to start if they chose to go with this method.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Is that a tritium night sight insert?

It’s some kind of tall tritium insert or bead. I’ll knock it out and fill it with something. Might send to SW for a “tune up” and sight fix. I like that idea

 

[StrawHat]

It's probably not pinned.
The 686-5 is the only pre lock variant that had a pinned sight.
Short of having expensive machining done to have a new sight installed, the insert change is your cheapest option.

I had a S&W Model 686 no dash with a 6” barrel and a -1 with a 4” barrel. Both of the were ordered with Patridge sights. Both came with pinned in black blades. When did the factory stop pinning in front sight blades?

Kevin

 

[Mizar]

I would just get a red acrylic blank, file it to shape and then glue it with epoxy. Check the sites offering pen or knife making materials - whichever is cheaper.

 

[357 Terms]

I had a S&W Model 686 no dash with a 6” barrel and a -1 with a 4” barrel. Both of the were ordered with Patridge sights. Both came with pinned in black blades. When did the factory stop pinning in front sight blades?

Kevin

I don't ever recall seeing a no dash through -4 with an orange insert front sight that wasn't integral with the barrel.
Special orders/limited models may be different.

 

[RainDodger]

I think Mizer has the best idea. I know for a fact that the red insert in my M66 is simply glued in place, as I had to re-glue it one time. Rocket science it is not.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I own two S&W's that came with the red ramp insert- 4" 629-0 and a 66-2 snub. Both have been replaced with front and rear night sights. I really dislike the red ramp insert and find it hard to believe that S&W thought it was a good idea to put a blob of red plastic on their top quality guns. Some more recent Performance Center guns accomplished the same goal using shallow depression on the front sight filled with colored paint. That seems to be a far better option to me.

 

[UncleEd]

Fact is the red ramp insert tends to look black in
various lighting conditions other than bright
sunlight. I've found it to be quite useless.

Fire trucks traditionally were and are red but note
how many departments have switched to white/yellow
and orange. Good visibility reasons for that.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Well I scored. This 686 is a No dash with “M”. Looks fantastic. Will be some time before I can go get it but it’s in good hands till then. I’m beyond stoked. Will do whatever it takes to make this gun right. I want this one to be my BBQ gun. Barranti summer classic will get the nod for leather

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Yep so much easier. I use fluorescent orange or green and if you don't like it fingernail polish remover is your friend...

I've used yellow as well as green. My eyes seem to pick those colors up easiest.

 

[Riomouse911]

Very nice!

Yes, that is just an insert that was pressed into the dovetail notch to replace the red ramp insert. You can press it out and replace it with an epoxy or a plastic piece cut to fit rather than pay a bundle for the kit.

You don’t want to have all stainless sights. Every gun I own with silver sights is impossible to shoot well no matter what the lighting is. All of mine with intregal silver/nickel sights have been painted white then blaze orange with Testors paint. This has improved the sight picture immensely.

Here are a couple of stainless K frame .38’s with the front sights painted, a Model 64 with fixed sights and a Model 67 with stainless adjustable sights.





Stay safe.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Beautiful!