Ruger .44 carbine question - odd front sight.

sigp220.45 · Jul 18, 2012

I just laid away a .44 carbine with a 62000 serial number, which means 1962 manufacture, I think.

Its in decent shape, and the price was right. I got it to use on javelinas. One odd thing is this front sight:

It actually looks good in person. It looks like someone installed a little steel ball in the existing sight. Has anyone seen one like it before?

LVSteve · Jul 18, 2012

It's what you do when you cannot afford the gold bead option.

sigp220.45 · Jul 19, 2012

I found this photo of a similar front sight on a current Gunbroker listing:

It looks like mine lost the white insert, and the steel ball was substituted.

I'm not sure if its OK to post a link to a current auction, so I won't. If you search "Ruger .44 carbine original peep and swivels" you'll see it.

So, could this be an original sight? I've seen references to early .44 carbines that came with peep receiver sights, could this be the front sight used on those guns?

dant · Jul 19, 2012

no Sir, the front sight on your gun is either a 'repair' or some psuedo custom effect, NOT a factory order/option...the white insert pictured is the one that came on the early guns.........

sigp220.45 · Jul 19, 2012

dant said:
no Sir, the front sight on your gun is either a 'repair' or some psuedo custom effect, NOT a factory order/option...the white insert pictured is the one that came on the early guns.........

Do you think it could be an early original sight that lost its insert, and then was home-repaired with the little steel ball? The gun is from 62.

If you click the Ruger ad in this article, it looks the .44 that Bill Ruger blasted the warthog with has the same half-moon type sight.

7 ‘Old School’ Deer Rifles That Can Still Bring Home the Venison

ADDED:

I may have solved my own insignificant mystery. It seems early carbines had these front sights - called "sourdough" sights. Originally the sight held a white plastic insert as shown in the other photos. Mine apparently has been modified with a steel ball.

forresth · Jul 20, 2012

looks like they forced the "mouth" open a bit when whoever jammed the steel ball in there, so no going back to a factory white plastic insert even if you could find one.

7tenz · Jul 25, 2012

Some clear epoxy, titanium dioxide, and an Exacto knife or razor, and one can be easily had.

Ruger .44 carbine question - odd front sight.

sigp220.45

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LVSteve

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sigp220.45

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dant

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sigp220.45

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forresth

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7tenz

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