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Old 05-14-2020, 10:39 PM
Doug44 Doug44 is offline
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Default S&W Novak sights

Did all the older generations with Novak sights use the same dovetails? If not what is the difference?
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Old 05-15-2020, 03:01 PM
JohnHL JohnHL is offline
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S&W 3rd gen pistols are the only generation of S&W, metal framed, center fire, semi-automatic pistols based on the pre-model 39, to use Novak sights.

The dovetail is the same on all of them.

John
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Old 05-16-2020, 11:41 AM
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If you find a second gen pistol with Novak sights, guaranteed they are not original. Novak rear sights became a standard during the production of the third gen pistols. Early production 3rd gen pistols, those with the hooked trigger guard, usually have the 2nd gen sights.
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Old 05-16-2020, 12:06 PM
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Thanks. I am not up on all the older generation SW. Does the 952s and 5906s have the same dovetail? Those with the Novak sights?
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Old 05-17-2020, 08:58 AM
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No, the Model 952 is a competition pistol with a fully adjustable, low mount sight. It is completely different from the fixed or adjustable sights found on the 59xx pistols.
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Old 05-18-2020, 07:55 AM
rosewood rosewood is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnHL View Post
S&W 3rd gen pistols are the only generation of S&W, metal framed, center fire, semi-automatic pistols based on the pre-model 39, to use Novak sights.

The dovetail is the same on all of them.

John
I thought some of the SW1911s had the same dovetail.

The S&W Novaks have a different angle on the dovetail than other Novak sights for some dumb reason.

Rosewood
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Old 05-18-2020, 01:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rosewood View Post
I thought some of the SW1911s had the same dovetail.

The S&W Novaks have a different angle on the dovetail than other Novak sights for some dumb reason.

Rosewood
SW1911s are not based on the pre-model 39.

John
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Old 05-18-2020, 02:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnHL View Post
SW1911s are not based on the pre-model 39.

John
I am aware of that, your wording confused me. I thought you meant any S&W (generation meaning any not specifically 1-3).
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Old 05-18-2020, 03:37 PM
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If you think my wording is confusing...

Just imagine my thought processes!

John
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Old 05-18-2020, 05:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rosewood View Post
I thought some of the SW1911s had the same dovetail.

The S&W Novaks have a different angle on the dovetail than other Novak sights for some dumb reason.

Rosewood
The SW1911 used the same rear Novak sight as was used on the 3913/53's. (#10792)

It looked a bit odd at first because the way they cut the slide of the SW1911 ended up creating a bit of extra gap space underneath the rear of the base. We were told that since the existing rear Novak sight had the right height, they'd just decided to go with the same sight base used in the 3rd gen compact since they already had it.

FWIW, nowadays S&W has changed over to making their own steel sights in-house.

Not sure what they're using now, or in the E-Series guns, as I didn't keep up on the parts lists for them. Besides, I only needed to keep up on the standard SW1911's, since I owned one and some of the guys bought them. I ordered the Extractor Bar Gauge and a couple extra pins. (I was told the newer machining for the 1911 slides had resulted in the extractors generally dropping in without any fitting/filing, but I ordered the Bar Gauge anyway, just to add it to my tool kit.) The standard SW1911 .45 extractor was the same 3rd gen extractor used in the .40's, while the E-series got the taller PC .45 extractor.
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Old 05-19-2020, 02:11 AM
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Quote:
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The SW1911 used the same rear Novak sight as was used on the 3913/53's. (#10792)
In fact, #107920000 is used on (53) different models, 9s & 40s.

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Old 05-19-2020, 10:23 AM
BigMuddy BigMuddy is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnHL View Post
S&W 3rd gen pistols are the only generation of S&W, metal framed, center fire, semi-automatic pistols based on the pre-model 39, to use Novak sights.

The dovetail is the same on all of them.

John
I thought the M745 had a Novak rear sight?

Dan
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Old 05-19-2020, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by BLUEDOT37 View Post
In fact, #107920000 is used on (53) different models, 9s & 40s.

.
I know, but the while the ubiquitous 9/.40 sight is common for many of their models, I figured it would be easiest to recognize for the 3913, and my point was they used the existing Novak 3rd gen rear sight for their then-new 1911.
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