Model 64 .38 Special- New Sights?

[SherriffEarp]

I'm new here, and excited to be a part of things! I actually chose to join this forum because I'd lurked a bit before I purchased my first wheel gun, the aforementioned .38. So: I don't have great eyes and I'm having a bit of trouble with quick target acquisition. The sights on this revolver are solid, but only if the light hits them right (for me.) I tried the nail polish trick, but it looked absurd and I hated it. I also tried that gun sight paint, and it came off in one solid piece of acrylic. I've spoken to a couple of gunsmiths and they've all told me something different, but I've narrowed it down to two options.

1. Totally get rid of the sights and put a dovetail / new sights on.

2. Mill a small line through the serrated part of the front sight (vertically) and fill it with bright white paint.

Thoughts/ideas/suggestions?

[murphydog]

Welcome! I'm not sure if your issue is just with the front sight picture or the rear also. Before making any metal alterations to the front, even though the nail polish thing didn't work for you I'd still recommend trying your proposed front sight change by some temporary method.

If your issue is with both sights, however, it would be better to have a model 67 (with a factory adjustable rear sight) rather than altering your 64. Hope this helps.

[imashooter2]

I painted the rear notch flat black and the front ramp serrations Chevy engine orange and have been very pleased. The flat black was a bigger improvement than the orange.

[Double-O-Dave]

Sheriff:

Some fixed sighted S&W K-frames are one solid piece that is part of the barrel. However, some are pinned in - the pin is usually polished and can be difficult to see. My Model 64-3 had a pinned in front sight that I replaced with a Hi-Viz fiber optic front sight. The tenon of the Hi-Viz sight is just a bit too short to take a pin, so mine is crazy glued in place. Look at the front sight of your piece in really good light (sunlight is excellent for this, just be careful and don't freak your neighbors out!). The Hi-Viz fiber optic cost about $25.00 if I recall correctly.

Best of luck,

Dave

[papajohn428]

I have long maintained that stainless sights on a stainless gun are one of the worst ideas S&W ever had, especially for older eyes. Mine are all painted for better contrast, but they're still hard to pick up. Like you, I'm also looking for some high-visibility fixed sights that can be mounted via screws, a Big Dot front sight would be a big improvement but it would require a taller rear sight to match. I contacted D&L about doing the work but the price was three times what the M-64 cost!

Anyone got a viable and affordable alternative to the factory groove-and-blade sights?

[shawn mccarver]

After reading the original post, I am at a loss, as I would have thought bright paint would have done the job.

One thing is, however, beyond doubt. I would not, under any set of circumstances, allow a gunsmith to install dovetail sights or mill the front sight as described. I have just never seen such modifications do anything other than destroy the value and appearance of a perfectly good revolver.

I realize that the revolver should be friendly to "aging" eyes, however I do not think the solution is such a drastic modification.

A good optometrist can fix the problem by setting up some "shooting glasses" that are geared to a sweet spot that will take into account the approximate distance from the eye to the front sight on most revolvers in a normal shooting position.

If that is not a solution preferred by the OP, then what really is needed is more light around the front sight. In my opinion, the best way to do that without drastic modifications to the revolver is to get a revolver such as the Model 67, which has taller and more visible sights. The replaceable rear sight blade can be widened allowing more light. A sight blade is comparatively easy to replace in order to return the revolver to stock.

The FBI, if memory serves, used to modify its fixed sight revolvers by widening the rear notch to allow more light around the front sight. It doesn't take much and if done properly is almost not noticeable without a caliper. By my way of thinking, if new glasses or a revolver with adjustable sights with a widened blade are not options, then widen the rear notch just a tad.

[papajohn428]

Shawn, the problem with painting the sights is that as our eyes age, we are unable to see things up close in focus. I can read street signs a half-mile away, but under three feet I can't see anything but a blur.

Shooting glasses are one option, but for those of us that work armed, what are the odds that our shooting glasses will be accessible when the doodoo suddenly hits the rotating oscillator? I spent close to $500 for good shooting glasses, and they work fine, but they have VERY limited utility if I'm not at the range. They're not good for much else.

What I'm looking into is a Big Dot front sight, coupled with a larger rear sight in black, with a VERY wide notch. There are some such things made....but what I have approached my gunsmith about is opening up the groove in the topstrap to accept a standard S&W adjustable sight assembly, with a drilled-and-tapped front sight of the right height after the stainless front sight is milled off. So far, it seems like the best, most cost-efficient option. If it works out, I'll be posting about it here.

[RussellD]

Crimson trace laser grips have a great purpose. I am at the reading glasses stage of life and trying to see my front sight in other than bright sunlight is a struggle. With a mild pair of reading glasses I can see the front sight but the target is blurry...

I tired a set of laser grips and they work! Nice groups on the target and I could see the red dot!

My mother is 79. She tried a set of laser grips and was able to get consistent hits.

[358156hp]

As we age, brightly colored sights are often no longer our friends in bright light. Silver sights, and even orange ramps often glare and blur for me, and plain old black sights seem to work better for me, more consistently. Before making any permanent changes, I suggest the OP spend a little more time at the range, and try making certain his focus is on the front sight, and build from there. Front sight, front sight, front sight. Focus on the front sight. Lock your eyes on the target, bring the front sight onto the center of the target, and fire. Since it is impossible to focus on the target, front sight, and rear sight simultaneously, His eyes may simply be getting confused, trying to balance out the three. A fiberoptic or even tritium front sight may be called for, depending on the type of shooting he does. Another possibility would be to sell the 64 and look at newer model revolvers with adjustable (and replaceable) front & rear sights. But I'd try adjusting technique first to see if it helps since it doesn't require spending any extra money.

[Steve in Vermont]

I have both a 64 and 67 and can shoot as accurately (a relative term at my age) with both. Like many others I have perfect vision at long distances but, up very close, need reading glasses. Using these glasses I can see the sights fine, but not the target. And visa versa. I found that, through practice, I can certainly shoot well enough the qualify in a PPC and keeping myself proficient at that level is my goal. And BTW, for cc I carry a 640-1 with CT and can shoot 2" groups at 7 to 10 yards. Without these sights I'd be "point shooting" with much less accuracy. But all this is subjective so keep looking and sooner or later you'll find the right combination for you. Good luck.