new to me flat top blackhawk: with an issue

[IlikeSA]

I was fortunate the other day to find a stainless 45 colt convertible flat top Blackhawk sitting in the gun store the other day on consignment for 739 with 220 rounds of decent ammo, holster and belt, and box and papers. I made an offer of 600 and it was accepted. I saw the sights had been changed and the front sight had been changed out by someone who had absolutely no idea of what he was doing. I examined the rest and it is mechanically sound.

He drilled out the roll pin in the front sight, letting the drill slip once to mar the exterior of the barrel. Then he got the wrong sight and either JB Welded or silver soldered it to the front...and it's too short. I can tell it's too short because the rear sight is all the way down and...Ruger says on its site not to use this sight for 45 Colt.

I like tabletop gunsmithing myself and want to correct this error. I am limited in tools and knowledge to fix this, so my question is this:

1: Would it be worth it to fabricate a new sight out of brass with hand files and a dremel, then heat up the front sight to get it loose with a torch, then roll pin my new sight in? He used the wrong drill bit and made the hole larger, so I'd have to try several different size roll pins and may have to custom cut it to size.

2: Or would it make more sense to get a new front sight base and simply solder it on?

3: Failing that: take it to a local gun smith? If so, what would be a fair price?

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Glad you got a deal, but this is a perfect example of "Hold my beer" as I've ever seen, some guys need to just put the tool box down...

 

[IlikeSA]

I'm right there with you...why would you use fiber optics on a single action!? I guess I am too traditional.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would contact Ruger and see if they will do the work to put it back into factory condition. They will probably charge you but it will be done correctly and with factory parts. I'm fairly sure the best fix will be to replace the damaged base. It's just what I would look into first.

 

[edwardware]

I would want to fix that myself, simply for the satisfaction. I think you could install a new sight, cut/polish the marred face of the sight base down past the damage, and have a very high quality repair.

If the base is irretrievable, I understand that low-temp silver solder isn't too bad.

You'll probably end up buying a couple tools instead of buying shipping.

 

[bannockburn]

IlikeSA

I would contact Ruger to see if they can make it right.

 

[PapaG]

Key stock, files and hacksaw, make it taller. Dress down the marred area. Drill new sight and base and roll pin in place. Blue before assembly then sight in with rear sight in center of travel by filing.
Been there, done that more than once.

 

[BobWright]

Do you have a local gunsmith who could do the work? If so, order a new front sight from Ruger or Brownell's and have you 'smith remove that sight and sweat on another of correct size. Most 'smiths have a few Ruger sights of different heights on hand. If so, you'll have saved some shipping costs. Always good to be on friendly terms with your local gunsmith.

Bob Wright

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I would contact Ruger and see if they will do the work to put it back into factory condition. They will probably charge you but it will be done correctly and with factory parts. I'm fairly sure the best fix will be to replace the damaged base. It's just what I would look into first.

Amen.

First of all, any time you talk about using heat on a gun, you're treading on thin ice. If the sight has been silver-soldered the gun has been subject to too much heat in the first place. Send it back to Ruger and let them to it right.

 

[Charlie98]

I would contact Ruger and see if they will do the work to put it back into factory condition. They will probably charge you but it will be done correctly and with factory parts. I'm fairly sure the best fix will be to replace the damaged base. It's just what I would look into first.

...and here's another thing. Rugers have notorious issues with cylinder throats and torque bulges in the barrel... the original owner may have been trying to fix an accuracy issue with what looks like a taller front sight. I know about this... I have a .44SPC flattop with both mismatched cylinder throats (now fixed) and a barrel bulge (next project.) I would probably shoot your pistol, first, to see what it's doing. If it's all over the place, or you are having an uncorrectable bullet impact drift (my .44 shot high and left...) you might as well have Ruger look at that, too. If they twist on a new barrel, assuming they did it correctly, it would fix the barrel bulge (assuming it has one.)

 

[Varminterror]

Amen.

First of all, any time you talk about using heat on a gun, you're treading on thin ice. If the sight has been silver-soldered the gun has been subject to too much heat in the first place. Send it back to Ruger and let them to it right.

You do realize, all Vaqueros and most of the Blackhawks and supers use silver soldered front sights, correct? Too much heat? C’mon...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You do realize, all Vaqueros and most of the Blackhawks and supers use silver soldered front sights, correct? Too much heat? C’mon...

The sights are soldered at the factory, where they have heat sinks and well-trained people.

 

[Varminterror]

 

[BobWright]

The sights are soldered at the factory, where they have heat sinks and well-trained people.

You speak as if my 'smith isn't? I dare say he is probably better trained than factory people.

Bob Wright

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You speak as if my 'smith isn't? I dare say he is probably better trained than factory people.

Bob Wright

Okay. Let him remove the sight and silver solder a new one on.

 

[BobWright]

Okay. Let him remove the sight and silver solder a new one on.

He has done so for me several times. A few times to get the right height, and after shortening a couple of barrels.

This Colt New Frontier had a 7 1/2" barrel, plus having the front ramp set too far back from the muzzle:



This Super Blackhawk had a front sight that was too short, and had a new ramp and blade put on:



And this Super Blackhawk had a 7 1/2" barrel cut back to 5" and the front sight relocated:



Removing and replacing a sweat-on front sight is not that big of a problem.

And,incidentally, none of the sights replaced for me by my gunsmith has ever popped off under recoil. Can't say that about factory installations.

Bob Wright

 

[Varminterror]

I’m not a huge fan of Larry, but I can be sure he’s as skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced as any of the floor assemblers at Ruger. Here he silver solders a pair of sights in the same manner thousands upon thousands of us other smiths have done for hundreds of years.