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S&W-Smithing Maintenance, Repair, and Enhancement of Smith & Wesson and Other Firearms.


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  #1  
Old 05-12-2012, 11:29 AM
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powwowell powwowell is offline
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Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.  
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Default Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.

I had a problem seeing the factory sights.

I replaced the front sight with a Red Ramp style that I got from Midway. It is much easier to see. If this doesn't work out, I'm going for a green Fiber Optic.

I got the rear Outline Sight from S&W. Wow! What a pain to change out! When breaking the screw, I must have turned it the wrong way. The sight was jammed left and I couldn't get the nut out of the sight channel. I drilled through the nut and somehow the LITTLE detent and spring got gone! God was good to me, for after quite some time and effort, I found both of them. Whew! They are also mean little boogers to install.

Now that I'm ready to post this, I notice that the Rear Outline sight is not showing up in the pictures. It's been an aggravating morning, so here are the pics anyway.







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Old 05-12-2012, 11:56 AM
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hawgleg hawgleg is offline
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Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.  
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Nice job. That little bit of red ramp on the front should really help with getting on target.
I have the red fiber optic on mine and it helped me a lot. One of my favorite guns.
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Old 05-25-2012, 12:52 PM
BruMatt BruMatt is offline
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Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.  
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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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Old 05-25-2012, 01:25 PM
Bailey Boat Bailey Boat is offline
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Don't forget to mention what a PITA the front sight is to get drilled properly without enlarging the ramp holes.....
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Old 05-26-2012, 12:43 PM
cyberiad cyberiad is offline
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To do two rear sights recently I used this bit SMITH & WESSON SIGHT NUT SPANNER - Brownells since I already had a Magna tip handle. This nut spanner comes with complete instructions on how to replace the rear sight leaf. Using the spanner bit and another screw driver to turn the screw made it straight forward. I did remove the stocks and lock the frame in a small bench vise before I started so that I could have each hand free to hold the nut and break the screw. I'm told the screw can be reused in some cases but since I already had a new one I decided to use it. I did reuse the tiny spring and plunger inside the "body" of the rear sight.

Another tool probably could be used, but I staked the nut with this SMITH & WESSON DELUXE REAR SIGHT REBUILD KIT - Brownells

Easy switch with the correct tools. Be careful about staking the nut correctly otherwise it it might be impossible to turn the screw afterward.

I intend to do a front sight soon and I have the correct size drill bit (#54 I think) and a replacement factory pin. Unfortunately, I don't have a drill press and I'm afraid of trying to drill the hole in the new sight while the sight is on the gun because I know I'll mess it up, so I'm going to try to mark the hole and drill the sight after I find some way to clamp it to a piece of wood on my bench.

I friend of mine drilled one out to 1/16" but I don't want to enlarge the hole if I don't have to.

Last edited by cyberiad; 05-26-2012 at 12:48 PM.
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Old 06-09-2012, 03:58 PM
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powwowell powwowell is offline
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Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.  
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BruMatt View Post
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?
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.

Last edited by powwowell; 06-11-2012 at 08:47 AM. Reason: added text
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Old 06-15-2012, 10:44 AM
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H Richard H Richard is offline
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Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.  
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If you do this again, put the gun in a "large" clear plastic bag when removing and/or installing the blade to capture the detente and spring when (not if) they go flying out. You evidently turned the adjustment incorrectly, as it needs to come out the right side not the left. I made my spanner wrench by filing a notch in a old junk screwdriver blade, fits perfectly.
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Old 06-15-2012, 07:05 PM
DeeBee DeeBee is offline
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Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.  
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Nice job! I like it!
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Old 10-09-2012, 05:41 PM
Apollonavigator Apollonavigator is offline
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Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics. Changing Sights on Model 60-15. With pics.  
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Is the grip on your 60 an option from S & W? I just bought a new 60, and it came with a black rubber grip.
I plan on installing the red ramp front sight, so thanks for that info.
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