Six months ago I bought a new 10 shot 617-6 and at fifty eight, with not the best eyesight, I struggled with the patridge front sight and black rear so I got my local gunsmith to install a red ramp and white outline rear blade.
A few of the purist target shooters at our club thought I was mad but I am very pleased with the result.
This is my second model 617 and I wish I had done the same to the first gun, (a 617-1 square butt six shot with target hammer and trigger).
I lost a bit of interest in this gun after shooting it for some time because of the sights and sold it; if I had installed the red ramp and white outline maybe I would have kept it to this day.
The red ramp is the only one S&W are making and the white outline rear blade is .160” high, I believe the highest they make with the white outline. The gunsmith had to file the bottom of the red ramp to get it down to the correct elevation to correspond with the rear.
I recall that Hi-Vis make a fibre optic front site which is correct height for the 617.
SW617 - Handgun Smith & Wesson 617 model revolvers
Copy and paste from HiVis websie
$44.05
SW617 - Front sight fits S&W 617 model revolvers. Resin overmolded LitePipe, available in either red or green. Sight is not pre-drilled.
Height of sight from barrel up is .165".
Also fits J frames with the HIVIZ sight from the S&W factory (if that sight was shooting too high).
Sight is not predrilled for roll pin.
The new 617-6 is a very accurate gun and a lot of fun to shoot.
I hope you manage to install the combination that is right for you.
Here's a couple of pics to look at.
Campfire