629-3 Fiber Optic REAR sights?

[WNC Seabee]

I brought home a new-to-me 629-3 5" today to replace one I foolishly sold last year.

While I was waiting (and waiting) on it to show up, I ordered a set of LPA fiber optic sights (LPA Ghilardi). I really like the FO for those dawn/dusk shots on deer and pigs, and because I simply see them better than the red ramp and white outline.


Anyway...when I went to install, they obviously are not a fit. Also, the 'middle' (rear most on the LPA sight base) hole seems to be threaded a different pitch than the others; the screws that came with the LPA insert just fine into all of the other mount holes on this 629-3 and the 625-8 that I tried it on.

In any case, the LPA sights ended up installed on the 625, and I'm back on the search for a set of FO sights for the 629. Any suggestions? FRONT sights are easy to find, but rears are proving a pain in the, well, rear.

[THEmodelof1989]

Unfortunately, I can't help you with fiber optic exactly. I can however suggest, and I fully endorse meprolight night sights. A while back I installed a set of them on my 686-5+ and couldn't be happier. Front and rear sights are white during the day and glowing green at night.

[Protocall_Design]

I make fiber optic front and rear sights for S&W revolvers. The rear sight goes in place of the regular leaf on the factory rear sight. You can check them out at the Forum Vendor link below.

[WNC Seabee]

Originally Posted by Protocall_Design

I make fiber optic front and rear sights for S&W revolvers. The rear sight goes in place of the regular leaf on the factory rear sight. You can check them out at the Forum Vendor link below.

I saw that, but the lack of images on the site kept me from looking any further.

If I don't want to mess with my OEM rear sight, do you stock rear sight that works with the 629-3? See the attached pictures to see the difference between a more current (625-8) production and what I'm working with.

[Protocall_Design]

Thanks for the feedback. I will get more pics on there.
Sadly, I don't have any -3 sight assemblies.

[Alk8944]

Originally Posted by WNC Seabee

I brought home a new-to-me 629-3 5" today to replace one I foolishly sold last year.

While I was waiting (and waiting) on it to show up, I ordered a set of LPA fiber optic sights (LPA Ghilardi). I really like the FO for those dawn/dusk shots on deer and pigs, and because I simply see them better than the red ramp and white outline.


Anyway...when I went to install, they obviously are not a fit. Also, the 'middle' (rear most on the LPA sight base) hole seems to be threaded a different pitch than the others; the screws that came with the LPA insert just fine into all of the other mount holes on this 629-3 and the 625-8 that I tried it on.

In any case, the LPA sights ended up installed on the 625, and I'm back on the search for a set of FO sights for the 629. Any suggestions? FRONT sights are easy to find, but rears are proving a pain in the, well, rear.

Your problem is the D&T on the 629 is not factory! That gun should have 3 holes threaded 6x48 in the same position as the three holes in your 625. Simply put the 629 is non-standard and you aren't going to find a sight to fit it unless you havr a gunsmith D&T it with the proper pattern. Or, put the factory sight back on it, sell it, and find another gun Bubba hasn't had his hands on!

[WNC Seabee]

Originally Posted by Alk8944

Your problem is the D&T on the 629 is not factory! That gun should have 3 holes threaded 6x48 in the same position as the three holes in your 625. Simply put the 629 is non-standard and you aren't going to find a sight to fit it unless you havr a gunsmith D&T it with the proper pattern. Or, put the factory sight back on it, sell it, and find another gun Bubba hasn't had his hands on!

well. That kinda sucks, eh?

[RoyM52]

Originally Posted by Alk8944

Your problem is the D&T on the 629 is not factory! That gun should have 3 holes threaded 6x48 in the same position as the three holes in your 625. Simply put the 629 is non-standard and you aren't going to find a sight to fit it unless you havr a gunsmith D&T it with the proper pattern. Or, put the factory sight back on it, sell it, and find another gun Bubba hasn't had his hands on!

Not necessarily a Bubba
The early dash 3 was not factory drilled for scope. And since the factory hadn't necessarily started, there would be no known standard drilling if a gunsmith was asked to do the job.

Fine gun, good series. No need to sell, just find the correct base.

[Alk8944]

[QUOTE=RoyM52;140510951]Not necessarily a Bubba
The early dash 3 was not factory drilled for scope. And since the factory hadn't necessarily started, there would be no known standard drilling if a gunsmith was asked to do the job.

Fine gun, good series. No need to sell, just find the correct base.[/QUOTE


CheckingSCS4 you are correct about the factory D&T beginning after the -3**, however this doesn't change the fact that the LPA sight OP purchased is intended for the factory D&T hole pattern, and that the OPs gun hole pattern is non-standard. I stand on the remainder of my remarks! Whoever D&T'd his gun should have obtained a sight or drawing for the correct hole pattern as a guide to drill it correctly instead of moving back resulting in 4 holes instead of the correct and evenly spaced 3. As I said, BUBBA! makes no difference if he considers himself a gunsmith or not, if you can't do the job right you're a BUBBA.


** Sorry if I am not intimately familiar with the literally hundreds of model variations S&W has created by materials changes and - engineering changes. I'll bet you aren't any better without the book.

[RoyM52]

[quote=Alk8944;140511057]

Originally Posted by RoyM52

Not necessarily a Bubba
The early dash 3 was not factory drilled for scope. And since the factory hadn't necessarily started, there would be no known standard drilling if a gunsmith was asked to do the job.

Fine gun, good series. No need to sell, just find the correct base.[/QUOTE


CheckingSCS4 you are correct about the factory D&T beginning after the -3**, however this doesn't change the fact that the LPA sight OP purchased is intended for the factory D&T hole pattern, and that the OPs gun hole pattern is non-standard. I stand on the remainder of my remarks! Whoever D&T'd his gun should have obtained a sight or drawing for the correct hole pattern as a guide to drill it correctly instead of moving back resulting in 4 holes instead of the correct and evenly spaced 3. As I said, BUBBA! makes no difference if he considers himself a gunsmith or not, if you can't do the job right you're a BUBBA.


** Sorry if I am not intimately familiar with the literally hundreds of model variations S&W has created by materials changes and - engineering changes. I'll bet you aren't any better without the book.

Sorry...I was not very clear in what I said.

The early dash 3 was not drilled and tapped, but the later dash 3 was. I thought when the 6 inch barrel was discontinued during the dash 3 and the 5 inch or 6 1/2 inch became the offering {Still a dash 3}
[also went from square to round butt, still dash 3} that all the 5 and 6 1/2 inch guns were drilled and tapped.

I would have to look a the neighbors later dash 3 , I know his is drilled and tapped and my early dash 3 is not. {we both bought them new , just a few months apart}

I think I only remember seeing two holes from the inside on his {with cylinder open} I only said that it could have been done by a gunsmith because there is a possibility that there were some guns made with the first 5 inch or 6 1/2 inch barrels before they started drilling them....but this may be a factory drill and tap...

others will have to chine in that have a dash 3 that is factory drilled....not a dash 4 or later {because the entire rear site was changed with the dash 4. It's possible that the drilling did too.

[WNC Seabee]

Because I'm looking at this gun as a shooter, I'm tempted to just figure out what thread pitch that buggered hole has, find the appropriate screw and roll with the LPA sight. I love outshooting the folks with pristine "correct" pieces because mine actually gets used.

[t4terrific]

The 629-3 Classic has an oddball rear sight design. That’s all.

[colt_saa]

The LPA sights work very well

This revolver has had a set on it for more than a decade now

[Protocall_Design]

I think the LPAs have the best sight picture of any revo sights available. It should not be too hard to get that one mounted on your gun.