Attached is a photo of a patridge front sight from my two Model 14-4, serial # 76K73xx and 76K92xx. (Unknown year of manufacture) I'm looking for a replacement with a fiber optic or other high visibility option. The black, patridge sight worked fantastic 30 years ago, but not so much now. Wearing bifocals doesn't make it easier either. I have not been able to find a "drop-in" replacement on the internet. My questions are: 1)is this a rare design only used briefly (it looks complicated to machine), 2) do people just not shoot these 1970's guns, 3) do people just not change out the sights, or 4) should I make these into "safe queens?" I'm sure a fiber optic sight could be custom manufactured, but that would be expensive. More than $100 for a sight is what I consider expensive. Any experiences with this sight, replacing it, suggestions?

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SW 14_4 front sight.jpg (69.2 KB, 136 views)

Don't know about being rare my M14 and all the others I've seen have Patridge sights. I do have problem seeing mine indoors against black targets may put dab of white paint on it.

Hello and welcome to the forum!!

You might consider a red post front sight which is basically a patridge with a cavity that holds a colored sight.

Normally red but on occasion you will see yellow or even white.





A decent gunsmith might even be able to convert your patridge with an insert of some sort.

I picked up a spare on here for 35 bucks a while back.

Years ago I decided I wanted no-hassle sight options. While I have used the standard Patridge sights for a very long time I recognized that I might want something different sometimes. Plus with .357/.38 sometimes you run out of adjustment. Go from a 200gr .38 to a 110gr .357 in the same gun and you'll see what I mean. I did not want to keep having to take it for sight swaps.

So I had a DX front sight base installed on my 6" Model 66. I can go from Patridge to Gold Bead to Baughman ramp to fiber optic at will. It takes seconds to change. Now that I'm shooting indoors most of the time I too find the fiber optic (mine's a Dawson DX blade) desirable. If I go back outdoors I can swap back to the Patridge if I want.

Mine came from Weigand but they are out of business. Bowen sells one....

Smith & Wesson DX Front Sight Base [P411] - $45.95 : +Parts Store+, Bowen Classic Arms

$50 plus installation which I won't guess at but price it out. You won't regret it.

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66.3.JPG (62.3 KB, 286 views)

Testers model paint had made many a Patridge front or ramp sight much more visible. All the bright colors are available, and with a little acetone can be removed without hurting the finish or bluing.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Here is a Patridge sight I had turned into a McGivern with a gold bead.

Kevin

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DBC14F43-3522-4DB5-92BF-F015DE43FB3A.jpg (52.0 KB, 71 views)

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

A minor point perhaps, but the McGivern (gold) bead is a hemisphere---superior to ALL other beads in that it will reflect light from any source within 180 degrees behind the shooter. This sight here (illustrated above) might better be referred to as a raised Call.

And I grant you anybody who knows such things right off is in serious need of professional help.

Ralph Tremaine

They are more common than the ramps on the six inch barrels.

Quite correct. My apologies. I asked that it be installed this way as a test to see if my eyes and targets could tell a difference.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I sent my Model 19 back to S&W for a tune up about 20 years ago.
While it was there I had them put this patridge with Mcgivern gold bead
up front. It works good as long as there is some kind of light behind
you, but if not, not so much.

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SAM_0337.jpg (99.9 KB, 38 views)

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In Omnia Paratus

OR you could address the real problem - your eyes - and get lenses that allow you to see both your sights and target with clarity. I have shooting glasses with those lenses and it works! Call Jim Mulligan at 717-272-0581; he can fix you up all over the phone as long as you have a current prescription. He will even obtain your prescription for you from the facility that has it. He's been doing shooting glasses for over 30 years.

Ed

"lenses that allow you to see both your sights and target with clarity"

How does he do that? I have had mono vision shooting glasses for a long time, right eye for the sights, left eye for the target.
Is Dr Mulligan doing something different?