Hi all,

I've got a 686-6. Rear sight has a ****** white outline. It's not even indented...

Wondering if anyone has had success removing the white outline on the rear sight? How'd you do it?

Looking for a better and permanent solution than just painting or magic marker...

I would replace it but its very hard to get parts where i'm from.

Thanks in advance.

I know you said something other than painting but you may want to try black auto touch-up paint.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

You could gently sand the white off using a small abrasive bob and then use a cold blue pen to touch it up. If you do this be sure to flush the sight with water thoroughly after each application of the cold blue and then spray with WD40. This will keep the blue from seeping down and rusting the windage threads.
OR use a magic marker and take the saved time to go shooting.
Chip King

Welcome to the forum!

If that's the only thing you don't like about it, then I wouldn't worry too much about it - just enjoy it!

Again, welcome to the forum.

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But then, what do I know?

try some acetone on it, it will not hurt anything even if it does not take it off,i use pure acetone but you can use nail polish remover also as it is acetone with some other additives that wont hurt the sight.

Naturally, if you don't have a new blade you could turn the current one around, but if you can't get a replacement screw and nut, which I suppose you can't, that won't help. I would scrape the junk off with the blade of an x-acto knife, touch it up with wet/dry sandpaper as needed and reblue as described above.

Those new so-called white outline blades S&W is selling are just awful. They're an insult to anyone who understands the importance of aiming in shooting a handgun. Some cost-cutting measures one can understand but in the case of a sight that the shooter quite literally stares at while using the weapon, any appreciable loss of quality is not productive. If shooters were running the show up there they would understand that so one can only presume a bunch of golfers has taken the reigns and the input of shooters on matters like this "is not needed."

Try chemicals first, like the acetone mentioned. It won't hurt bluing at all.

Next, I would try a bronze bristled "toothbrush" with acetone. This also would not hurt the bluing.

I wouldn't do anything so aggressive that it would remove the bluing, like some things mentioned by other posters.

If you try and turn the blade around you are going to break the screw, that is how it is designed-- then you will ne that part- JMHO- I would say Chip has the best idea--

Acetone should remove it instantly, so will most gun solvents. My experience with the painted on white outline sights is keeping them from coming off with normal cleaning!

They’re a pain to get off when you want them off and come off easily when you don’t.

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213th FBINA

Easiest solution: Black permanent magic marker.
More complex solution: Apply a strong solvent, acetone should do it, and scrub away at the outline. You may have to use a bronze brush. Go slowly so as to not damage the bluing.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I've done it more than once. Brake cleaner, Gunscrubber,etc. type product and a Q-Tip will easily remove it. It's just white paint.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

Some good response to your 1st post.

We do not know where you are located. That information gets filled out when you complete your profile.

From the name aus686 can we presume you are in Australia ?

If that is the case, my advice is going to be no good to you . . . I would simply call Smith & Wesson and order a replacement sight blade kit.

They are only $11 and come with a new screw and nut.
They can be ordered in any height with or without the white outline

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"Acta non verba"

I used a Sharpie

FYI, the OP only posted this one time back in 2014, he/she hasn't returned (this is an old thread).

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66/642/640/627/586/60/638/686

Dang it! I should have looked at the date of the OP before replying.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA