S&W Ghost ring sight blade

[Matt3357]

This is my S&W 686.


I read about a ghost ring sight blade for revolvers and was very intrigued by the idea. I did a lot of searching and the best thing I could come up with was a guy making them for rugers and other rifles. No one else makes anything for S&W as far as I know. I know one of the big draw backs is that normally you have to break the screw in order to remove the sight blade which would eat into profits of anyone trying to sell them, but I have come up with a solution for that. I designed the blade in AutoCAD and had it cut on a laser. It took two tries but I got one that looks amazing and I hope shoots as good. I am a bit concerned that it might be a bit high. I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks when I get back home to my Dad's range. Tell me what you think.






Thanks,
Matt

 

[The Filthy Spitoon]

I think it's outstanding.

Like you, I have looked everywhere for something like this, but for some reason, they aren't making a lot of innovative sights for the S&W sixguns now.

I have been looking for this for my own S&W revolvers, and have explored making one on my own with unimpressive results.

Please let us know how it shoots!

 

[NG VI]

Looks fantastic, let us know how it shoots soon

 

[Oro]

Good job and initiative.

I think you will find it to be sitting to high in the rear, and also too large and aperture for precision alignment. But that's what testing and experimenting are about. They do make v-notch rear blades, and they work really well with fiber optic post front sights (I have one like that on a 1911 style gun). If you match that rear ghost once you get it refined with a front f.o. post, you'll have something really fun.

How did you fabricate the screw tunnel on the bottom of the blade? That would seem hard to me.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I'll be glad to beta test on my 686+. Let us know how it works out.

 

[Matt3357]

I took the notch blade that was on the sight, cannibalized it, and silver soldered the new blade on. I emailed S&W asking about the thread size and count with zero reply. It normally wears a scope anyhow plus midway is back ordered on new ones for quite a while so I didn't see a reason not too. An improvement my girlfriend came up with was a line on the horizontal to line up to. It is just plain steel right now, but after I perma-blue it, a fine white line is going across it. If it is indeed a tidbit too high, i have another cut out that I thought was a bit too short that I can put on instead. It will be more work but I think once I get it down I will love this sight. Just messing with it in the house, this sight is much much more instinct than the notch. Tests will see. I will be back home at our range in two weeks. Pictures will follow.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Matt3357]

Ok so I have done some drawing using suggestions from here. Let me know what you guys think.

Original Notch


Current 7/32" Hole High


Lower 7/32" Hole


Lower 3/16" Hole


The blue is a representation of the front sight blade for hole size comparison, of course it will look smaller because of distance from the rear sight blade but it gives you an idea. Unfortunately on my 686, the front blade is fixed so what I have is what I got. If anyone knows what thread size the windage adjustment screw is, I could foresee these things being pretty cheap to reproduce. Please give me your feed back.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[dalv]

Hey Matt,
Just got back shooting my 2" Model 63 .22. As the 50+ yr old eyes don't focus like they used to...and I just got a ring for my CZ 452 rifle (which is great!) from J&P. I was thinking this is what I need for the 63.
Good luck with your design. I would recommend 3/16" aperture for better accuracy.
As I have (2) 686's and the 63... I'd be good for 3 of 'em!

Keep up the good work
Dal