Model 52 sights

[BC38]

Oh I'll DEFINITELY try it as is with the red dot on it.
The thing that really bums me out is that the rail didn't need to go all the way to the muzzle. It could have stopped 3/4" from the end of the muzzle and left the front sight intact.
Of course i wouldn't have got such a deal on it if it weren't modified.

 

[StakeOut]

No matter the short comings of the modded 52,the price more than made up for it.
Often the individual parts are worth more than the price of the whole unit.

 

[Rick H.]

I could be wrong and will have to check one or two of my M52's, but it looks like the PO just removed the rear sight and installed a filler plate to keep the springs in place. I would take that rib off the slide and see if the front sight isn't still there and just hiding in a cutout under the rib. I have seen a couple of ribs installed as such with a slot milled in the rib to slide over the sight. I have also seen guys hack off a front sight to install a rib although I could never understand why. I could be all full of water on this, but it is worth it to do a closer examination. Oh, and if the front sight is really MIA you could contact Dawson Sights and see if they can help you out with one of their great sights. Should be an easy fix.

P.S. I looked at one of my 52's and it seems the PO just removed the rear sight and installed the filler plate. So if you can come up with a rear sight and related screws and such you might be in good shape.

Rick H.

 

[BC38]

I could be wrong and will have to check one or two of my M52's, but it looks like the PO just removed the rear sight and installed a filler plate to keep the springs in place. I would take that rib off the slide and see if the front sight isn't still there and just hiding in a cutout under the rib. I have seen a couple of ribs installed as such with a slot milled in the rib to slide over the sight. I have also seen guys hack off a front sight to install a rib although I could never understand why. I could be all full of water on this, but it is worth it to do a closer examination. Oh, and if the front sight is really MIA you could contact Dawson Sights and see if they can help you out with one of their great sights. Should be an easy fix.

P.S. I looked at one of my 52's and it seems the PO just removed the rear sight and installed the filler plate. So if you can come up with a rear sight and related screws and such you might be in good shape.

Rick H.

You're definitely right about the rear sight - there is a "blanking plate" installed in the rear sight dovetail.

I'd love to discover you are right about the front sight, but I am pretty certain that it has been milled off. Here is a picture of another slide that shows that normally the front of the sight is flush with the front of the slide.

As you can see in the photo of the one I bought, there is a flat spot on top of the slide at the front edge (circled in red) - where the base of the sight should be if it were still there.

Unless the front of the sight is actually set back from the front of the slide?

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello BC, when are you getting the gun, and end the mystery?

 

[BC38]

Hello BC, when are you getting the gun, and end the mystery?

Well, I started the paperwork on it on the 17th, and under state law the background check can take up to ten business days - which would mean two calendar weeks - so no later than about the 3rd of March.

Though it could be significantly sooner. I did the paperwork on a Ruger Mk I and a Remington RS380 last week at one shop - and got to go pick them up this week.

On the other hand I did the paperwork on a S&W CS45 at a different shop on the 7th and still haven't got the call to go pick it up yet.

 

[Rick H.]

My gut tells me the front sight is probably gone, but there were times I have seen them "hiding" under a rail. It just depended on how much work the rail installer wanted to go through and the depth of the rail versus the ease of just milling off the sight. Fingers crossed that it is still there. If not I would still give Dawson sights a call and see what they suggest. I really like their sight blades.

Rick H.

 

[boatbum101]

If you can find a Bomar rib sights are superior to factory for serious target use . BCM makes a bunch of different mounts for the 52 & I personally have used the one that replaces rear sight . With a set of light weight rings & 1" Ultradot plus a Wolff 7lb recoil spring as it's no drill no tap . Front sight mill a dovetail , rear IIRC Kensight or LPA should have a target adjustable type .

 

[Rick H.]

BC38: I once heard that a certain series of Model 41 rear sights would work on a Model 52, but I am not certain of that. The rear sights certainly looked close but according to Gunparts Corp. they have part numbers that are off by one digit. The Model 52 sights used to come up quite often on Fleabay and Gunbroker so you may want to watch those two. There are other sources like Hog Island that have a lot of used S&W parts. I'll check my old 52 parts supply and if I have anything I will let you know.

Rick H.

 

[wagwan]

Those rear sights rarely come up on eBay or Gunbroker any more. I’ve been looking for over a year and a half. I missed one at $65 and two others went for approx $140. That’s all I’ve seen.

 

[BC38]

There are some really good suggestions here, I really appreciate all the info. Anybody know offhand what the rear dovetail width is on the M52-2?
I like the idea of having a dovetail cut for a front sight too. That might even be a better idea than silver soldering a sight onto the slide.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think the advantage to a silver solder job is that the blade could be shaped just like the original and you would have to look hard to spot the seam if well done.
The advantage to the cross dovetail is that there are so many choices now, even in a black post, Dawson makes different height and width blades. Get close on before you click the rear, get however much light you want in the sight picture. Or even fibre optic if you are not shooting plain vanilla six o'clock hold on a bullseye.

 

[Rick H.]

To the OP, I checked my stash of old parts and I have no complete rear sights for a Model 52, just some odds and ends but not enough to make up a complete rear sight. Checking with Gun Parts Corp. there are something like 17 parts that go into making up a M52 rear sight and if you total up all the pieces required from their parts list it comes out to $224.81. Unfortunately they don't have all the pieces required to make up a complete rear sight. I think the last time I bought a complete used rear sight it was around $65.00 on Fleabay. The well is really drying up on these old M52 parts compared to just a couple of years ago. I will keep my eyes open for one and let you know if anything comes up.

Rick H.

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Jim, how much does this front sight silver solder job cost?

 

[Kp321]

BC38, I have had to install red dots on all of my target pistols so I have an assortment of 41 and 52 sights. Don’t really want to get rid of any of the original Smith sights but I have one Bo-Mar I told consider selling. It was on a tired 52-1 I picked up a few years ago. PM me if you are interested and we will negotiate.

 

[BC38]

BC38, I have had to install red dots on all of my target pistols so I have an assortment of 41 and 52 sights. Don’t really want to get rid of any of the original Smith sights but I have one Bo-Mar I told consider selling. It was on a tired 52-1 I picked up a few years ago. PM me if you are interested and we will negotiate.

You bet I'm interested. PM coming up! Actually, if it is OK with you I'll send an email instead. Email is more accessible and doesn't fill up the limited space in my PM box.

Thanks!

 

[BC38]

To the OP, I checked my stash of old parts and I have no complete rear sights for a Model 52, just some odds and ends but not enough to make up a complete rear sight. Checking with Gun Parts Corp. there are something like 17 parts that go into making up a M52 rear sight and if you total up all the pieces required from their parts list it comes out to $224.81. Unfortunately they don't have all the pieces required to make up a complete rear sight. I think the last time I bought a complete used rear sight it was around $65.00 on Fleabay. The well is really drying up on these old M52 parts compared to just a couple of years ago. I will keep my eyes open for one and let you know if anything comes up.

Rick H.

I appreciate it. I looked at Numrich too, but gave up on the idea when I saw what it would cost to assemble one from their parts!
I''m probably going to install a Bomar and a silver soldered front blade for now, but I'll still be on the hunt for an original rear sight, so thanks for keeping an eye out for one.

 

[Sevens]

We all have opinions and they may or may not help but they are relevant.

The rear Bo-Mar shown in post 35 is an upgrade over the original Model 52 rear sight.

I wouldn’t modify a clean 52 to install one but I surely would make use of that in a hurry if my 52 were already altered and non-original.

It will work great and it will look decent too.

 

[BC38]

We all have opinions and they may or may not help but they are relevant.

The rear Bo-Mar shown in post 35 is an upgrade over the original Model 52 rear sight.

I wouldn’t modify a clean 52 to install one but I surely would make use of that in a hurry if my 52 were already altered and non-original.

It will work great and it will look decent too.

Thanks! I was thinking some of the same (work well, look good).

Does anyone know if the dovetail for the 52-2 is the same as for a 1911? The Bomar sights for 1911 pistols seem to be REALLY common. I just don't know if they have the right dovetail to fit the 52-2.

Can I impose on one of you guys who has a 52-2 and a set of calipers to take a few measurements of the front sight?

I need the dimensions listed as A, B, C, D, E, & F on the two photos below. Basically the sight base height, length and width, and the blade height, length, and width.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sevens]

If nobody gets on this, I can probably do it tomorrow. Sorry that I cannot today.