My 686 is almost perfect but...

wildenout · #1 12-10-2013, 03:20 PM

I really really want to find a rear sight assembly that is silver, not black for my 2.5" 686-6. A buddy of mine had one on his 629, and on his 4"686. Of course they are older models, but I am still determined to find one! Does anyone have any leads? Brownells and Numrich only carried the black as well.

steamloco76 · #2 12-10-2013, 04:42 PM

S&W never made a silver or stainless steel sight for any L frame revolvers. The S&W's that came with the SS sights were the early 1970's first of their kind stainless steel revolvers models 66 & 67 etc. The sights for these older guns are not directly interchangeable with the L frame sight. Plus, the old SS sights are quite valuable as they have been unavailable as replacement parts for years.

ISCS Yoda · #3 12-10-2013, 05:00 PM

I like steamloco's reply. I was just going to ask why but it's moot if it doesn't exist. I have that same model; the black sights don't bother me - actually, I think they look good and work just fine!

***GRJ***

Nightowl · #4 12-10-2013, 05:10 PM

Stainless sights are god awful in sunlight. Extremely difficult to see. I thought they would really provide good visibility, that is until I took the gun out in the sunlight. The sights were impossible to see. Black is, for some reason, the best sight color.

shawn mccarver · #5 12-10-2013, 06:24 PM

I suspect your buddy has some after-market replacement on his revolver. The whole idea behind having the rear sight black is so it is easier to see when shooting, not so it "looks cool."

wildenout · #6 12-10-2013, 07:02 PM

It's the OCD in me moreso than the "cool" looking factor. It's the one part of my gun that interrupts the flow haha, but it sounds as if they don't exist!

Old Unc' · #7 12-10-2013, 10:26 PM

I finally dumped my 4" 686 for a new 45/410 Governor. Having a ball with the new gun...

jaymoore · #8 12-11-2013, 04:10 AM

The stainless colored sights on the older 629, etc. may be just "decolored" stainless. The blackening process for SS usually isn't as durable as bluing on carbon steel parts. Check the underside of your rear sight assembly and see if it has an "S" marking. (At least on older stainless revolvers.) If so, it's fairly easy to scrub the black away. If you are careful, you can leave the blade itself dark.

I've a 629 no dash which has a rear sight that is almost white which got that way with no effort on my part aside from the usual cleaning with soft rags and the occasional nylon brush.

As far as visibility goes, the rear sight washes out less often than the stupid red ramp insert up front!

Another "white" rear sight on a Model 67 but in this case it was a factory "finish", not a fade out.