Loose front sight

[David LaPell]

I just noticed something tonight when I was putting my 27-2 in my safe after wiping it down that the front sight blade is a little loose. Not the topstrap but the blade. It is not the pinned in variety (which I actually prefer in most cases). The sight only moves back and forth a bit, not at all up and down, and I am wondering if it was from a few months ago when I did alot of testing with some hot loads, or was it always like this since I really never noticed it before. Are they all like this? All my other guns have fixed sights or are pinned in. This is the first Smith I had in years with this type of sight. I can't believe after four years that it has been loose and me not noticing but hey, who actually looks at that? The next question is, if it isn't supposed to be loose, how to fix it?

You can see the type of front blade here.

[Alk8944]

There are only two basic types of front sights on S&W revolvers, pinned and forged integral with the barrel. If your sight is perceptably loose it is a pinned sight, whether you can see the pin or not.

Go to your local auto parts store and buy a can of brake cleaner, one which is Perchlorethane or Trichlorethane, not one of the non-clorinated types. Also buy a tube of one of the "wicking" types of Loc-Tite, the stronger the better. Spray the sight thoroughly to flush all oil from the rib and sight tenon, blow out with compressed air. Repeat at least 3 times to be sure the area is clean. Once cleaned apply the wicking Loc-Tite and let it cure thoroughly, several hours. Once cured clean the excess off the rib and sight with the brake cleaner on a rag and then oil. The loose sight problem will be cured permanently. Only the part of the resin that penetrates into the sight slot will cure since Loc-Tite products are anaerobic resins, they cure only when air is excluded. That which is exposed on the surface will thicken a bit but can be easily cleaned off. This way you don't have to remove the pin.

This is an extremely common problem with guns made in the 1950s and before with target sights.

[David LaPell]

Thanks, I was able to get it done last night now its right tight and ready to go.