S&W Shield rear sight damaging cover garments

[TimeIsRunninOut]

As your can see by them title I am having an issue with my Shield damaging (eating) shirts and jackets. I am asking if anyone else has had an issue with their Shield or another handgun ruining clothing or cover garments at the rear, or the rear sight area? Did you have to sand, file or dull them edges? Or was a different rear sight used instead of factory? If if helps I am using a p j holster at 20° cant with a wilderness csm at 4:00 carry.

Thanks for reading any help is appreciated.

 

[1948CJ2A]

Interesting and thanks for posting. I just picked up my new M&P Shield this afternoon. I purchased a Blackhawk (size 29) tan leather IWB holster for it and upon visual inspection, it looks like the rear sight will be protected by the holster. I plan on carrying it this week so we'll see.

 

[BSA1]

Very common problem that plains clothes coppers have had for many decades. When revolvers ruled the roost the sharp checkering on the hammer chewed up the inside of suit coats quickly. We overcame that with a small piece of rubber tubing covering the hammer spur or just grinding the spur off altogether.

Likewise the sight blade on adjustable sights chewed up suit coats which is one of the reason fixed sight revolvers and semi-autos with small, rounded rear sight blades were and are popular.

Taking a file to the sight may help with the problem. You will need to keep it touched up with cold blue if it steel.

Another method is to change your holster and carry method. A holster that has a leather tab that comes up from the front to cover the sight blade with help a lot. Also changing to a more straight cant on the holster will reduce the drag on your clothing.

 

[TimeIsRunninOut]

I'll have to see about getting some cold blue, I do believe the rear and front sight are steel. I'll have to see what I can find at the hardware store for a metal file, I wouldn't imagine the lgs having any. Didn't realize that the hammer spur on the revolvers would have been an issue, I had always carried a Smith and Wesson centennial j frame with the concealed hammer. Do to recent events it has pushed me to start carrying a larger handgun with increased capacity, didn't realize until just recently I was tearing holes in my shirts and jackets whenever I would use a cover garment. I am liking the excuse to get a new holster in leather for on the belt too.

 

[bbqreloader]

What caliber Shield are you carrying? I have a 9mm in a Kydex holster and never had a problem, but the holster also covers the rear sight.

 

[TimeIsRunninOut]

It's the 9mm with thumb safety and stock sights. My current holster is kydex but doesn't wrap completely around the rear sight, just the side closest to me.

 

[JTQ]

I do find your issues surprising.

The S&W M&P/Shield line-up uses a "Novak-esque" sight (they may actually be Novak's, but I don't really know), that were specifically developed to be low profile and anti-snag (usually described as such in advertising literature), and to end the problems as listed above in the example of revolver rear adjustable sights.

It doesn't mean you aren't having the problems you listed, just that those sights were specifically designed avoid those issues.

 

[entropy]

My BIL has the same problem with his G19. Rips his T-shirts to shreds, and he still wears them, in a state without Open Carry.

 

[JTQ]

My BIL has the same problem with his G19. Rips his T-shirts to shreds, and he still wears them, in a state without Open Carry.

Stock plastic Glock sights or aftermarket sights?

 

[entropy]

Stock. He's kind of a chucklehead, so I'm sure it's more him than the gun.....

 

[ColtPythonElite]

All of my t-shirts have holes in them from hammer rubbing.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I just looked at mine. That little hood on the top which extends over the two dots is rather sharp. Hasn't caused me any angst yet. That cant at 4:00 could be an issue. I carry at 4:00 but without any cant in a Kydex IWB. I only got it a couple months ago, so I'll have to see how it goes.
I wouldn't think twice about knocking the edge off with a file or 400 grit paper.
Warning! If you think about changing the rear sight, they are in that dove tail mega tight. You will need a sight pusher if yours is anything like mine.

 

[Malamute]

Many guns have sharp edges where there shouldnt be any. It doesnt surprise me that the no snag sights have sharp edges. Smith revolver hammers have sharp checkering, but even there theres something that can help, as well as all the other sharp edges found on many guns. The small ceramic triangular stones worked over the edges of the hammer spur checkering at an angle cleans up that part while leaving the top flat sharp for the thumb to grab as desired, though the top can be toned down a little also. Triggers, sights, and any other spot that is sharp and shouldnt be can also be addressed. Edges of hammers and triggers are often very sharp, like behind the spur, front face edges, and the back edge of triggers. I often wonder at all the angst over grooved triggers, if much of it is just sharp spots, not the overall grooves. Deburred, I havent found grooves to be problematic. Some have nasty edges and burrs, even back into the 1950s.

Unfortunately, i think many people just accept the wear and tear on clothes when they dont really have to, or not at the rate done by not toning down sharp edges.

 

[Plan2Live]

I've only had one garment damaged by my carry pistol and that's probably because I used it as my go-to shirt too often. I carry outside the waistband at around 3:30 an the rear sights rubbing against the shirt as the shirt was trapped between the sight and the side bolsters of the seats in my truck rubbed a hole there. Shame, very comfortable shirt and covered my pistol well. Brand and model of pistol omitted, added nothing to the post.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The sights on the S&W's are stainless steel. The black coating is a vapor deposition coating. Filing or grinding will remove the coating.
Touch up blue won't work. I know! My .380 BodyGuard shot really high. Accurate, but 6" high, so I took down the rear sight.
Black paint doesn't stick too well either.

I recommend changing holsters if sights are rubbing.
I carry my .40 Sheild in a Bianchi thumb break style belt holster. Sight is covered.