Partridge Sight

[wv109323]

What models beside the model 14 came with a partridge front sight? I assume other models could be ordered with that way.

[MetalMan]

“Patridge”......

[steelslaver]

A Partridge is a bird and PATridge is a type of sight
Common error

Someone will be along to post a picture of a partrige on the end of a barrel.

As far as I know all the 6" and 8 3/8" model 14 guns had the patridge type front sight. They did make some shorter barreled model 14s and those I am even less sure of. But as nothing is 100% with S&W I may well be wrong. But, anything else on a 6" barrel would be uncommon.

[GyMac]

I had a 586 with one when they first came out. I preferred it.

[Joed49]

LOL, wouldn't the gun be heavy with a partridge sitting on the end of the barrel?

[just plain joe]

I had a 6" Model 27 with a patridge sight. I believe at one time or another 6" Model 19 revolvers equipped with the patridge have been posted on this forum. My 6" K-22 and K-38 also sport this type sight.

Others may know more though.

JPJ

[pantannojack]

Maybe someone could make a pair of stocks from Pear tree wood, then we could see a Partridge on a Pear Tree.

[Targets Guy]

I have three.


1947 K22



1951 K38



1969 Model 14-3

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by wv109323

What models beside the model 14 came with a partridge front sight? I assume other models could be ordered with that way.

I doubt that any of us could provide a complete list of all Smith & Wesson revolvers that left the Factory with a Patridge front sight as standard equipment. Usually they were models that wee expected to be used for target shooting or even competition

Like your K-38 Model 14, 38 Masterpiece, the other Masterpiece revolvers will have the same sights. That would be the K22 and the K32 Masterpiece revolvers or Models 17 and 16 respectivly

There have also been 6" Model 15s from time to time

Many of the 6" and 6 1/2" revolvers came with Patridge sights in the 70s -90s. Both of the blue Model 27s pictured below have a Patridge, the 6 1/2" even has the red post Patridge. These sights will also be seen on many model 24s and some Model 29s

Some of the various 8 3/8" revolvers had then and sometimes you even found them on 4" revolver

In recent years, the Gold bead style have become standatd on some of the 5" guns. The second one has had a yellow dot painted on it for faster sighting

[Drm50]

I have partridge fronts on everything except a NIB 29-2 4” and a 25-5 83/8” that can’t be swapped out. Also m34 & m18. I hate the red ramps and Baughman too.

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by Drm50

I have partridge fronts on everything except a NIB 29-2 4” and a 25-5 83/8” that can’t be swapped out. Also m34 & m18. I hate the red ramps and Baughman too.

Did the Model 34s come that way? Or did you have to change front sights ?

[Drm50]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

Did the Model 34s come that way? Or did you have to change front sights ?

No, my fault , I was meaning the m34 and M18 are not pinned in sights and they both have ramp fronts. I have one 25-5 that has red ramp non replaceable and 2 that have patridge fronts. Both 6.5” guns. They must have switched in middle of production to the Red Ramp.

[Pizza Bob]

Just couldn't disappoint...

[andyo5]

With many models, the longer barreled versions came with a patridge sight while the shorter version came with either ramped or red ramped. I think that S&W assumed the shorter barreled guns were likely to be holstered, and patridge sights don't play as nicely with holsters as do ramps.

[StrawHat]

As mentioned, any target model would be expected to come from the factory with a patridge sight. In addition to the models mentioned the Model 25-2 was also shipped so equipped.

Kevin

[JP@AK]

I see lots of replies referencing model numbers, but you guys are forgetting all the revolvers equipped with Patridge sights from before the war. E. E. Patridge was living before the 20th Century began. He was competing in match shoots when my grandfather was born in 1894.

The earliest gun with the Patridge sight I can remember seeing was from about 1922, as I recall. They go back a long way, so compiling a list of all models that came with that sight would be an impossible task.

[Walter Rego]

My Model 27-2 with a 5" barrel has the Patridge front sight, which from my observations is not as common as the Baughman ramp front sight on the 5" Model 27's.

My Model 17-6 with the 4" full lug barrel also has a Patridge front sight but generally speaking, they are most often seen on the 6", 6.5" and 8 3/8" S&W's of different models and calibers.

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by Walter Rego

My Model 27-2 with a 5" barrel has the Patridge front sight, which from my observations is not as common as the Baughman ramp front sight on the 5" Model 27's.

I believe that to be correct. I don't recall ever seeing a 27-2 5" with anything but the Baughman. I'm not saying they don't exist, only that I don't remember seeing one.

Here's my 5" example. Bought with the original box for a song a few years ago. Don't ask how much because I'm slightly ashamed of "stealing" it.

[Engineer1911]

I have L-frame 6" revolvers, K-frame 6" revolvers, N-frame 8-3/8", 6" , and 5" revolvers with Patridge front sights. They were bought because of the front sight (and 1 pair of stunning grips). Every body has a reason to buy.

[Art Doc]

Designed by E.E. Patridge. A name so should be capitalized.

[rct269]

The plain Patridge came into being around 1900, and was applied on order to top-break targets until about 1923. It was the standard sight on all later 3rd Model Single Shots, and all Straight Lines as well as all hand ejector targets (from 1923 to 1942). As noted earlier, it was the standard on the post-war 6" Masterpiece series (.22/.32/.38). It appears, thinly disguised with a variety of beads, as the Call, McGivern, and King versions. The "thin round top blade" (Think narrow Patridge.) preceded it as the standard on all hand ejector targets from 1905 to 1923.

Ralph Tremaine

Note the use of the term "standard". I don't know when they actually started the practice, but S&W routinely offered any front sight in their inventory in place of the standard sight in use at the time on pretty much any target grade model. They began to publicize that practice at least with the brochures/catalog sheets on the Outdoorsman models (.22 and .38/44), and followed quickly by those on the .357 Magnum. It is my informal observation comparatively few buyers took advantage of this opportunity----probably because of the delay encountered with a special order (other than for pre-war Magnums) and the fact swapping sights later on was child's play.

[crazyphil]

Here is my S&W 19-4 with Herrett's Jordan Trooper stocks. I sent it in
to S&W maybe 15 or 20 years ago for a tune up and asked them to put
the McGivern gold bead sight on it too. I guess this would be called a
Patridge?

[rct269]

Originally Posted by crazyphil

Here is my S&W 19-4 with Herrett's Jordan Trooper stocks. I sent it in
to S&W maybe 15 or 20 years ago for a tune up and asked them to put
the McGivern gold bead sight on it too. I guess this would be called a
Patridge?

Actually, it would be called exactly what you called it---------a McGivern Gold Bead. The fact it uses a Patridge as foundation is immaterial.

(And as an aside, the McGivern Gold Bead is the best of all the beads/dots/whatever, as its bead is hemispherical in shape, and will reflect light to the shooter from any source within almost 180 degrees.)

Ralph Tremaine

[Narragansett]

Originally Posted by Pizza Bob

Just couldn't disappoint...

That looks like a male Bobwhite

[rubiranch]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Don't ask how much because I'm slightly ashamed of "stealing" it.

Everyone steals something at one time or another.




My nickel 6" M27-2 was shipped in Aug 1968. S283171.
It came with Target Stocks and I replaced them with Diamond Target Stocks.

I bought it from an estate two years ago. I paid $280 for it.

[Pizza Bob]

Originally Posted by Narragansett

That looks like a male Bobwhite

Maybe a Pizza Bobwhite?!?

[Walter Rego]

Here is my Model 27-2 5 inch with the Patridge front sight.

[Drm50]

Originally Posted by Pizza Bob

Just couldn't disappoint...

I’m going on 70 in July. I called the blade sights partridge until
someone on this forum brought it to my attention shortly after In joined 5 or 6 years ago. Still call stocks grips and magazines clips. People in this area wouldn’t know what you were talking about. A magazine has fold outs and stock is on a rifle.

[wv109323]

With my old eyes, the front sight was fuzzy. I mistook the fuzziness for feathers and thought it was a partridge. Thanks for the correction.
IIRC, it was a Andrew Jackson quote " Only a narrow-minded person can think of one way to spell a word"

[Dave.357]

Sometimes you have to
Have it your your way.
Not a problem on the
Older guns

[SmithNut]

Originally Posted by Drm50

I’m going on 70 in July. I called the blade sights partridge until
someone on this forum brought it to my attention shortly after In joined 5 or 6 years ago. Still call stocks grips and magazines clips. People in this area wouldn’t know what you were talking about. A magazine has fold outs and stock is on a rifle.

Don't feel bad, even the folks at the factory had it wrong at times..... shrug..

[jjfitch]

The Patridge or vertical flat blade is found on target models for improved sight acuity. Think: Target Masterpiece

Ramped sights are found of Combat style revolvers.
Think: Combat Masterpiece

The ramped front sight comes out of the holster without drag and "smutz" stuck to it!

Smiles,

[Dieseltech56]

You could also get no dash 586 and 686 with 6 or 8 3/8s inch barrels and factory patridge front sights.

I remember reading why these were made and it wasn’t silhouette shooting like I had thought.

[Patrick L]

All my shotguns have "partridge" sights as that's what I'm trying to bag!!

[StrawHat]

Originally Posted by jjfitch

...The ramped front sight comes out of the holster without drag and "smutz" stuck to it!

Smiles,...

With a properly constructed holster that is not a problem.

Kevin

[Drm50]

A ramped front has no purpose other than easy draw. The red ramp is a good tool for cops in low light situations. Either one of these gives poor sight definition for my eyes. Always has even before I got old age eye problems. I never saw a bullseye shooter with ramp or Flo insert. The only Flo sight I like is Raybar on shotgun.