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12-02-2020, 12:57 PM
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M1917 Front Sight
Why would someone modify a front sight on a M1917 shipped in 1918 to this condition?
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12-02-2020, 01:03 PM
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Maybe I'm just inexperienced, but I can't think of a single reason to turn a front sight into a mini-canopener...  ...Ben
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12-02-2020, 01:13 PM
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Same reason all front sights get modified- to give a better sight picture.
There are many variants of the undercut Patridge, but I have not seen that particular one before.
Put some combat grips on it and it'll look better. 
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12-02-2020, 01:14 PM
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The only thing I can think of is that there was a colored insert there at one time. Perhaps a red post. Are the rear sights King's or Micro's, by any chance?
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12-02-2020, 01:15 PM
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Guy- excellent assumption. Might have been.
Is it a pinned blade with the pin polished flat, or was it built up?
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12-02-2020, 02:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy
The only thing I can think of is that there was a colored insert there at one time. Perhaps a red post. Are the rear sights King's or Micro's, by any chance?
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This is absolutely the case in my opinion. I've seen this specific job with a piece of Red Plastic in that cut out one time, and another time it was Gold in there.
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12-02-2020, 02:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy
The only thing I can think of is that there was a colored insert there at one time. Perhaps a red post. Are the rear sights King's or Micro's, by any chance?
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Standard M1917 rear sight.
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12-02-2020, 04:25 PM
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This time of the year, you could use it to cut wrapping paper.
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12-02-2020, 05:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handejector
Same reason all front sights get modified- to give a better sight picture.
There are many variants of the undercut Patridge, but I have not seen that particular one before.
Put some combat grips on it and it'll look better. |
Now that's funny I don't care who you are.
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12-02-2020, 05:31 PM
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Maybe this. Click on the pic for more detailed look.
The front sight is the only thing I don't like.
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Last edited by crsides; 12-02-2020 at 05:32 PM.
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12-02-2020, 06:04 PM
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I’ve owned several S&W 1917/1937/Commercial revolvers that came to me with altered or “ramped” front sights. In my experience they all shot low. I used to have my gunsmith (Terri Tussey; sadly recently passed) return them to standard using a US Penny. They looked good and shot back to point of aim.
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12-02-2020, 06:18 PM
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Who did the engraving, Charlie?
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12-02-2020, 06:50 PM
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Maybe he wanted it to look like a Colt 1917. It's the bottom one in photo for the uninformed. LOL.
Last edited by sodacan; 12-02-2020 at 06:51 PM.
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12-02-2020, 06:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handejector
Same reason all front sights get modified- to give a better sight picture.
There are many variants of the undercut Patridge, but I have not seen that particular one before.
Put some combat grips on it and it'll look better. |
I agree with part one of your post. 
The second paragraph hurt me. 
Edit. Please consider my "like" only "half like". Sorry. 
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Last edited by Kurusu; 12-02-2020 at 06:55 PM.
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12-02-2020, 11:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy
Who did the engraving, Charlie?
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Ray Viramontez. Got it on my first trip to Tulsa. Been hooked ever since.
Ray was a master engraver, as bestowed by the Firearms Engraving Guild. Lifer in the Air Force and did a lot of high end aerial photography while in. Did engraving for Bill Ruger, including the number 1 african series which had gold inlays of the big 5. Later got into supplying gold, silver wire to engravers.
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12-02-2020, 11:15 PM
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It may have been done long ago before these guns were collector’s items. In those days this gun was not “vintage”.
The undercut would be very effective at eliminating all glare.
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12-02-2020, 11:47 PM
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I had a triple lock that had this work done to it, ruined the piece for me but I got the triple lock bug out of my system.
Last edited by Kinman; 12-02-2020 at 11:51 PM.
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12-03-2020, 12:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kinman
I had a triple lock that had this work done to it, ruined the piece for me but I got the triple lock bug out of my system.
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That's really dang weird. Why would they do this? It wouldn't really change the sight picture at all from the standard sight...if they had done it the other way they would at least have had a ramp.
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12-03-2020, 01:22 AM
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If it were mine I would see if I could find a firearms friendly jeweler and see if he could fill it with gold. If that isn't an option a piece of brass fitted would work too.
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12-03-2020, 03:01 AM
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Looks like there's enough material on the sight to file and shape it back to original. That's what I would do it it were mine because it appears to be a very nice gun otherwise.
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12-03-2020, 12:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Muley Gil
This time of the year, you could use it to cut wrapping paper. |
It might open bottles also. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kinman
I had a triple lock that had this work done to it, ruined the piece for me but I got the triple lock bug out of my system.
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That might have been done to remove a bad ding that put junk in the sight picture.
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12-03-2020, 08:32 PM
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You got me...I traded into it and traded out, I could not get used to how weird it looked and was not enamored with the feel of the action, it is a very tight and well maintained piece. I have a 2nd Model that has a superior trigger both double and single and I wanted it to go to a proper home where someone would either like it or go to the effort of fixing it. I do appreciate the extra mechanical attributes but do not consider them an advantage over the 2nd Model.
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12-03-2020, 08:51 PM
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I vote with the gorilla on Kidman’s picture, fixed a stainless Vaquero in a similar fashion and blacked out the back side . Works real good on running pigs.Bubba strikes again!
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12-03-2020, 09:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Duster42
Why would someone modify a front sight on a M1917 shipped in 1918 to this condition?
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'Cause it was somebody's gun and they wanted it that way...
The top of the blade must be tall enough for the elevation or it wouldn't have been cut straight to the back at that height.
Just round the offending back half of the blade to the 1/2 moon shape to match the front portion and you have the old sight look back.
A touch of cold blue on the filed surface would take care of the work.
Or just soft solder a chunk of brass, silver or 24k gold into the slot and finish it off. They all take soft solder very well, nothing special needed.
It may have had a piece of ivory in there as well. Epoxy it in and trim it flush on the sides and face.
Easier to fix up than a Fitz Special
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12-04-2020, 04:57 AM
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I have a 1917 one of the Brazilian 1937 contract revolvers, I sprayed it with black paint and Smoked it and still hate it. In this day of modern highly visible sights there should be no reason for ****** sights as those. Sad part is there is almost nothing you can do with them. Even if someone would inlay a piece of brass would be light years way better. Seems either Colt or Smith & Wesson put those old half moon sights as an afterthought. Frank
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12-04-2020, 07:56 AM
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Here is almost a 1917, it is a Model 1950 Army with a modified sight. I did not notice it when I received it. I did not notice it at the range. I did not notice it until someone on this board commented on it.
Not going to change it.
Kevin
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12-04-2020, 09:15 AM
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This 1917 was acquired with a cut .455 MKII barrel and a funky homemade front sight. I jerked that out and replaced it with a post war 4" .45 ACP target barrel. Milled off the barrel rib and ramp front sight blade and replaced the blade with a 1/2 moon 1/10" wide blade pinned in the sight base after milling a mortise in it. Then filed the tiny rear U notch to adjust for windage with a compatible size square notch. Easy to see and shoots to point of aim.
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Last edited by Hondo44; 12-04-2020 at 09:20 AM.
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12-04-2020, 11:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44
...This 1917 was acquired with a cut .455 MKII barrel and a funky homemade front sight. I jerked that out and replaced it with a post war 4" .45 ACP target barrel. Milled off the barrel rib and ramp front sight blade and replaced the blade with a 1/2 moon 1/10" wide blade pinned in the sight base after milling a mortise in it. Then filed the tiny rear U notch to adjust for windage with a compatible size square notch. Easy to see and shoots to point of aim....
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Great looking piece! Let me know when you tire of it. A set of stags and a grip adapter and it will be the penultimate revolver.
Kevin
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12-27-2020, 07:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MG34/bar
I’ve owned several S&W 1917/1937/Commercial revolvers that came to me with altered or “ramped” front sights. In my experience they all shot low. I used to have my gunsmith (Terri Tussey; sadly recently passed) return them to standard using a US Penny. They looked good and shot back to point of aim.
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I knew Terry, he used to work on Steven Seagals 45's
Met him at one the Los Angeles area shows back in the 90's.
How did he die?
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