Quote:
Originally Posted by BruMatt
Hi, I am just contemplating doing the same sight replacements. Thanks for the help. Do you have the part numbers from Smith and Midway that you used? Did you replace the front pin, as well?
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The Midway Product # for the front sight is 395278, $22.99. The Baker Drill Bit #54 is Product # 249284, $1.99. Get more than one!! The break pretty easy and dull quickly. I needed 2 of them.
The S&W # for the .101 White Outline J Frame Rear Sight Blade Kit is SKU: 192680000 for $10.58. Unless you are handy with a file to make a spanner bit for the nut and a tool for staking the screw to the nut, do as cyberiad suggests and get the rear sight installation kit. I spent more time making the spanner bit, than I did with anything else involved with this project. I guess I'm not too handy with a file. : )
I placed the front sight where I wanted it (a few thousandths shy of the end of the barrel), then clamped it. I put the drill bit in a pin vise and marked the sight, on both sides. Go slow. This did NOT enlarge the pin hole on the frame. I then removed the front sight, and used an automatic center punch, too create a crater on both sides of the sight. The crater prevents the small drill bit from wandering off center. Again, go slow. I then put the drill bit into my drill press and drilled the hole. I set the depth so I could not drill but a fraction over halfway. Turn the sight over to finish drilling the hole. I've read where some "handy" people have drilled with a Dremel. I suggest that you DO NOT drill the sight while it's located in the barrel ramp. You don't want to wallow out the barrel ramp hole. I did not use any loctite. The original sight did not use loctite. If you must loctite, then use the blue. I think I'm going to put a green fiber optic on my revolver. I don't want to wrestle with loctite.
The pin in my revolver is not a solid pin. It's a roll pin. I had no trouble re-using it. But when ordering the outline sight from S&W, it might be wise to order a spare pin. I made a punch out of a small nail set. I turned it down on the drill press, using a file to remove metal.
Good luck with your project. I'm working on getting up the nerve to Bobtail a 1911.