Can someone please help me in removing a bent rear sight on a Model 19-3? I want to replace it if possible, or, perhaps straighten it.

Thanks for any help!

Mike

I assume you mean the sight blade is bent?

If so, the nut on the left side of the sight assembly that holds the sight blade is staked and you have to break the screw to remove/replace the blade.

New blades, screw and nut can be purchased from S&W as a kit (just over $10 or so) or any of the usual gun parts places online. Make sure your order the correct blade height for your revolver. You can measure your old one to be sure.

S&W also sell a rear sight installation tool ($25) which you'll need to stake the new nut to keep it from backing out when you adjust the sight blade by turning the screw.

I think (but could be wrong) that instructions on how to remove the old blade and install the new one come with the rear sight installation tool. If not, let me know and I'll post the procedures for you.

bls

No wonder I couldn't figure out how to remove the screw! I would not have thought it would need to be broken. Hmmm.

Calling S&W tomorrow to order a new part I guess. Thanks a lot for the info. Question: never "staked" a nut before. Is it tricky?

Not really. Take a look at the nut on the sight now. You'll see that what's actually staked is the end of the screw flaring/spreading it out some on the end so that the nut won't unscrew from the screw.

It's fairly easy to do and, I'm pretty sure the kit (either the sight kit or the tool kit) has fairly detailed instructions.

The real trick is to lay the sight assembly (removed from the revolver) on its right side, have something solid enough to support the end of the screw, put the staking tool on the end of the screw after the nut is put on the screw (the screw comes with a small indentation on the end to aid in the spreading of the screw when you tap it), hold everything perfectly still, aligned and then lightly tap the end of the staking tool with a hammer.

It doesn't take much to spread the screw so I'd go easy at first and then, if it's not spread enough, tap it lightly again until you get it where you need it.

It's been a while since I've replaced a rear sight blade but it's not that difficult. Just take your time and go slowly.

I highly recommend a book by Jerry Kuhnhausen titled "The S&W Revolver - A Shop Manual" available from a number of sources including Brownells for about $24. It is worth it's weight in gold, excellent reading and explains everything you could ever possibly want or need to do to a S&W revolver.

bls

Sorry, I thought of one more thing.

I have actually, on some revolvers, been able to remove the screw without breaking it, depending on how much the screw was staked previously.

If it's staked lightly, then you should be able to simply, using a well fitting screwdriver, turn the screw clockwise until the screw either breaks (just behind the head) or shears the end of the screw that was staked off allowing the nut to simply unscrew from the screw without the screw breaking.

However, even if the nut unscrews without breaking the screw, I would not try to reuse them and would replace both the screw and nut with new ones that come with the new sight blade.

Good luck.

bls

Check out the faq sticky above for a schematic and what tools are needed.

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NRA Benefactor Member

Be cautious. The screw slot end of the windage screw also contains a
"Very Tiny" plunger and spring. (What clicks when you adjust the windage). When you screw it out it will fly off to never never land unless you capture it. Doing the removal inside a large plastic bag helps. I still have one "somewhere" in my shop.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Are there any of us who do not have at least one somewhere in our shop/gun room/where ever?