I've got an old long-action M&P 4" .38 Spl that I love to shoot. About the only thing I don't like about the gun is the fixed sights--I find them hard to "acquire" when shooting quickly or even see well for precision shooting.

On the other hand, I find the regular S&W adjustable sights very operator friendly. Big, easy to see, easy to acquire, no problems fitting in my holsters, etc.

So--would it be possible to have adjustable sights added to this old revolver? A good idea?

This is by no means a collectable---it has light rust feckling all over it from a previous owner, various scratches, etc.

The front sight is the old half-moon variety, which I think can easily be re-shaped like the more modern M&P. I'm wondering about fitting an adjustable rear sight.

I've got an old long-action M&P 4" .38 Spl that I love to shoot. About the only thing I don't like about the gun is the fixed sights--I find them hard to "acquire" when shooting quickly or even see well for precision shooting.

On the other hand, I find the regular S&W adjustable sights very operator friendly. Big, easy to see, easy to acquire, no problems fitting in my holsters, etc.

So--would it be possible to have adjustable sights added to this old revolver? A good idea?

This is by no means a collectable---it has light rust feckling all over it from a previous owner, various scratches, etc.

The front sight is the old half-moon variety, which I think can easily be re-shaped like the more modern M&P. I'm wondering about fitting an adjustable rear sight.

You would probably have to raise the front sights too to account for the higher rear sight. By the time you get done with parts and gunsmithing fees etc., I would just buy a model 15 and be done with it.

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Dick

Spending money on modifying is never a good idea on common run-of-the-mill guns (unless Cousin Joe is an expert machinist) if you can get an adjustable sight version like a 4" mdl.15 or 67. You are going to waste money on this one and have a Frankengun that no one will want to buy should you decide to get rid of it.

A year or so ago somebody posted a photo of an old 1917 with an adjustable, aperture-style rear sight bolted onto the the frame through the upper side plate screw. It was an after-market device and I don't recall who made it; I'd say King, if I had to guess. I've never seen one of those things in the flesh, and I'm not sure if they even made them for M&P's, but it may be something to look into to get what you want and avoid an irrecoverable modification to an otherwise good S&W. -S2

It may be a Wondersight

please send email, I will send a picture of the sight and the current makers phone number

The rear sight notch in those old guns are ridiculously narrow.

Have a gunsmith open up the rear sight notch to modern dimensions and reblue. Your eyes will thank you for it.

The old engine builder said "Speed costs money, boy, how fast do you want to go?"

Almost anything is possible, given enough incentive (the green kind.) We all have different standards of workmanship. As yours go up, so does the bill.

Prewar adjustable sights aren't all that great. Better than the factory fixed ones, but not great. One of the huge improvements in the K22 of 1940 was the installation of the first micrometer rear sight. That wasn't available on the prewar M&P.

I assume you want to retain the long action feel, so you don't have a lot of choices other than to find and buy a long action M&P target. That can get expensive, fast.

First, decide if you want a pre or post war rear sight. Then start looking for one. Pre war rears are like hens teeth.

If you've got a close friend who is a machinist, he can do the work on a small mill. Its a two step process, first milling the groove where your rear site is now. Then most gunsmiths mill off the front sight and cut a keyway to install a front sight. Those are comparatively easy. Note that to do this kind of work a machine shop is supposed to have an FFL. A gunsmith can do it, but you'll pay dearly and wait a long while with most of them.

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Dick Burg

Its possible, but as others have already said, will cost more than the gun is worth. Wyatt has the best suggestion if all you want is quicker and easier sight picture acquisition. Here's one style...

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Pace

Thanks for all the tips.

Yes, the goal is to get a much improved sight picture on this particular gun, so that I can enjoy the long action. I already have Model 14s and 15s. Since the finish on this particular M&P is pretty worn, and I really, really like the long action, I started to think this might be feasible.

I have an in law who is a machinist--maybe I need to give him a call.

pace40,

I can't help wondering, but does that King rib have a white outlined rear sight?

Too bad King is no longer offering its fine line of handgun accessories. But, hey, I miss Roper grips as well!

Sorry, just got back to this thread. Yes, the rear sight is white outlined.

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Pace

swede; since the gun has pretty worn finish, and is strictly a shooter, and pretty accurate,except for hard to see sights, I would 1) follow Wyatt's advise and have the rear sight opened wide and "squared off", like the factory went to by 1930 on most models.
2) make the 1/2 moon front sight a 1/4 moon, by filling the rounded rear portion off, so you will habe a flat section to look at, not a curved or ramped area; sorta a "poor man's patridge front sight"' Just make sure you start filing from the apex, or highest part of the 1/2 moon. You should be able to also widen the rear notch, using a good set of needle files and patience.

Good Luck'
Bud