I was wondering if there is anyway to improve the sights on a 1980s vintage M36 snubby. The front sight is very thin and hard to pick up quickly. I painted it white for a non permanent mod but it needs to be wider. Any suggestions that don't require cutting and welding or machining.

That’s about it as far as I’ve found. I paint the front white and the rear area red or pink(whatever color I steel from the wife). On some I have painted the front sight white with the tip of it red to remember to raise point of aim a bit.

__________________
Two Handguns every day

I'd suggest more practice to get used to it. You can do it.

An alternative might be to find a Model 36-7 or 36-9 in 2" or a 36-8 3". Their front sight is 1/8th inch, compared to your 1/10th-inch sight. Makes a big difference!

I would not recommend altering your Chiefs Special.

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Walmart has a line of fingernail polish called Neon-pop, with a color called "traffic cone". Works great for jframe front sights.

I do the following:

Ensure the gun is UNLOADED.

Use rubbing alcohol to clean any oil off the front sight.

Apply a base coat of white fingernail polish and let dry.

Apply a coat of the traffic cone polish, let dry, possibly apply another.

While doing this I have the barrel clamped in a soft clamp and with the barrel point downward. I try to apply the polish as a drop of polish rather than painting it.

Let all that dry and then apply a coat of clear polish.

Some people paint the whole ramp, I don't.

Sounds pretty close to how I paint my front sights. I use white auto touch up paint. I would like to add some width to the blade without permanently altering it. Possibly glueing something to it. I have to keep my eyes open for something.

Here's a thought. I have heard of some people using colored electrical tape instead of paint on their front sights. I suppose it's possible to apply the tape to the face of the front sight and wrap it around the sides, which would make the front sight slightly thicker, maybe enough to work for you. Not sure about the durability/longevity, or how the adhesive might affect the finish.

I thought maybe a fiber optic could be attached? Are they fragile?

That would likely require milling away the front sight, cutting a dovetail into the barrel, and mounting the fiber optic sight. Not sure if that'd be feasible.

I mean glueing the fiber optic to the blade and protect it on the sides. Goop glue holds well and takes vibrations well yet can be removed easily without damaging the blueing. I never used a fiber optic though and may be barking up the wrong tree.

Something like this

Fiber Optic Replacement Inserts - Pre-Bulbed - Dawson Precision, Inc.

You can't add to the top of the sight blade it will make you shoot lower!
jcelect

When I paint sights I put scotch tape on each side so I just paint the top, makes a clean job.

I'm surprised there isn't such a thing as a "sight shoe"... something that would slip over the sight, perhaps glue-on. Even a hunk of plastic with a slot sawed in it.

I have a 60-7 with the 1/8" sight, that has an orange insert. Works ok, no better than contemporary J's with paint IMO.

I consider my 2" 36 and 60 both Belly Guns good for 7 yards or less and practice shooting them instinctively at the torso sized target. If I really would ever need to shoot one of these I am not thinking about taking the time to sight it. That is what my target pistols are for.

Bob

__________________
Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

I don't sight pocket guns but the wide front sight on my LCP and LC9 painted white help to point. I was thinking of glueing the optic to the ramped section of the blade, not the top. Just something to draw the eye to it in fast shooting.

The sight shoe idea is not bad but I'm afraid I'm going to have to improvise. Maybe just a piece of string trimmer line glued to the ramp. It is about 1/8 inch wide and orange. Little goop. Tonight I'm going to give it a try. Can't hurt.