I don't know how popular they were, but they have been around for a very long time. They might still be available for all I know. I have one old M&P with a Wondersight on it.
It really only works well for guns that shoot way low, since the sight blade needs to be above the fixed sight notch in the frame. I put one on a Triple Lock that'd had its barrel shortened and shot about 8" low, and avoided having to shorten the (nickel) front sight. Triple Lock with a Wonder Sight
The group at the bottom was shot with the original sights, using the upper right diamond as the aim point. The group at the top was shot after installing and adjusting the Wonder Sight, still aiming at the same diamond. A Wonder Sight will not materially affect group size, just point of impact.
I bought my first handgun from a local gun dealer in a Georgia neighborhood close by Chattanooga in 1955----my second from the same dealer in the same year. In between then and now, I've been in countless dealers' place of business, and/or the recipient of their catalogs, attended countless gun shows, and participated in countless auctions. I have seen pictures of the Wondersight often enough so that I know what it is by sight. I have never seen a gun with such a sight installed on it. I deem them to be a solution looking for a problem. The statistical validity of any and all extrapolations of my experience and opinion hovers perilously close to zero----but you asked.
I bought my first handgun from a local gun dealer in a Georgia neighborhood close by Chattanooga in 1955----my second from the same dealer in the same year. In between then and now, I've been in countless dealers' place of business, and/or the recipient of their catalogs, attended countless gun shows, and participated in countless auctions. I have seen pictures of the Wondersight often enough so that I know what it is by sight. I have never seen a gun with such a sight installed on it. I deem them to be a solution looking for a problem. The statistical validity of any and all extrapolations of my experience and opinion hover perilously close to zero----but you asked.
Ralph Tremaine
I did ask, and I always appreciate your honest opinion.
I also remember a quote form an inventor, I can't remember who, but to paraphrase:
"I never picked up anything without thinking about how I could improve it"
Successful or not, I have to give credit for creativity.
I have seen them on revolvers before, other than the very cool looking factor, on a stock S&W couldn’t see much use for them.
Tom K in post #3 showed a valid use for them. Now I want one.😎
There was on on my .455 Commercial Triple Lock when I got it. When I was able to find a replacement fifth screw I took it off. Charlie Sides said he liked them so I sent mine to him.
I had one given to me several years ago to install on my 32-20 M&P. I tried it on the gun, took it back off, then put it away to try again later. So far I haven’t gone back to that project. Note that on the common three screw models, a hole must be drilled and tapped. Where these made the most sense was with pre-war, five screw models and those that were continued into the Fifties.
I installed one on a Brazilian Model of 1917, they work well for what they are intended. I would not consider them combat rated as they can be easily bent. I was advised to put a piece of black electricians tape between the mounting surface and my firearm.
I used one on a .455 HE 2nd that had been converted to .45 ACP. The main advantage was that it provided a better sight picture than the tiny rear notch. Sold the gun, kept the sight.
Where I found them useful is with fixed sights. I almost always have a problem with fixed sights, just my eyes. It seems since I first dealt with the 1911 in the Army I tend to shoot high and left, in the Army I countered by aiming low and right as with nearly everything with fixed sights. I wanted to be able to use the Model of 1917 as a relaxed, fun, target revolver...put the Wondersight on cranked in the proper correction and bang, bang, bang. I know plenty of folks that just make the necessary Kentucky windage adjustment and never have any problems and trust me, if I have to I can get the job done without sights...period. I needed to be as accurate as possible and the 1917 presented itself to be a worthy candidate. The Wondersight is what it is, for relaxed fun target shooting they work very well and hold the setting you dial in...when my machinist cut the barrel down and made the front sight he set it up with the Wondersight in mind which allowed me plenty of adjustment.
The earlier M&P K-frames, prior to around 1926 or thereabouts, have terrible sights, front and rear - narrow and tiny. I am amazed that anyone could ever have shot accurately with them. Later, the sights were improved somewhat. The Wondersight would make an improvement in the sight picture, and I have noticed that on the M&P (from 1921) pictured that I previously posted above. I have fired that particular M&P only a small amount. Even though I have mounted it as low as possible without the hammer interfering, the POI is still about 3" high at 25 yards with a 6 O'Clock hold. No way to increase the height of the (very narrow) front sight, so I have no choice but to leave it alone.
They were a needed niche.
I have a very early Wondersight with different screws and knurling on the windage knob.
I have 3 of the later ones with straight cuts in place of the knurling.
I even modified one of the later ones to fit a 6" I frame .32 S&W Long
once. (They only come with spacer plates for K or N frame).
Kevin, My Brazilian in question is in the previous picture posted by Kinman.
About twenty minutes after I posted, I thought about looking through the thread but got off on a tangent. That is a nice looking revolver. First time I saw it I did not realize it was a Brazilian. That looks like it would carry well, light weight and 45 ACP. What more could one want.
About twenty minutes after I posted, I thought about looking through the thread but got off on a tangent. That is a nice looking revolver. First time I saw it I did not realize it was a Brazilian. That looks like it would carry well, light weight and 45 ACP. What more could one want.
Kevin
Kevin, That was exactly what I had planned to do with it when a friend turned it over to me. His friend had it for years and had a complete refinish done to it, once refinished its fair game as far as I'm concerned. I shot it with the full length barrel and as you mentioned thought it would be a nice light weight carry piece but I needed to do something with the sights if I wanted any accuracy. I thought about having it milled for a later style adjustable sight like was done to my 2nd Model .44 H.E. but decided to go a slightly cheaper route and have it shortened with a Baughman style front sight installed regulated to allow use of the Wondersight installment. My machinist did a great job milling the Baughman, it regulated perfectly with the Wondersight and allows for full adjustment at the rear sight. I've branched out since messing around with the Brazilian and don't carry it much anymore, still fun to take to the range.
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