Found a New Model 457

[GeoJelly]

Greetings again - Thanks to Uncle Sam's required minimum distribution ponzi scheme, I have found the dinero for another auto. I suppose the RMD is a tiny benefit of getting older. I had a Model 457 - two-tone - back in the late 90's before we moved to Germany to work for many years. Sold it and have regretted it since. Finally found one that really does look NIB on GB. Upfront, I understand these are budget pistols and a lot of older shooters here will be looking down their noses at it - but I'm tickled to have found it.

All of this said - I do not like the cheap polymer rear sight. Seems like I remember that the factory dovetail on these will not accomodate the nice-ish steel sight like is installed on my 4516. What do the smart people here think - am I out of luck? It still hasn't arrived yet so I can't compare the sight to the rear on my 4516. Thanks!

 

[GaryS]

Contact member Guzzitaco. He can fit a regular 45xx series rear sight on that 457. He can also "U" notch that rear sight for better visibility.

Careful or he'll talk you into a complete rework including custom machining of the slide and rebluing it to the standard that S&W should have used when they made the gun.

Here is what he did on a slide I bought on line and sent to him.

 

[BMCM]

Nice score, congrats.

That rear sight cut is the same as any 45xx gun thus the standard S&W version Novak low-mount in steel will go right on there. Albeit with a little hand fitting same as required for any other 45xx gun.

S&W pn: 10797 is the one you want.

Modded with a "U" notch is nice for old worn out eyeballs too...

As far as the front goes, if you can find a Trijicon SA27, that's about the only game in town for a steel front. XS used to make a "BigDot" set for those but they're out of production now.

It wouldn't be hard at all to make a front sight out of a piece to steel. Just tedious and time consuming. One would have to consider whether the "juice is really worth the squeeze" or not.
I had bought a little piece of 4140 quite some time back for just that purpose. Never got around to making one though

Cheers
Bill

Greetings again - Thanks to Uncle Sam's required minimum distribution ponzi scheme, I have found the dinero for another auto. I suppose the RMD is a tiny benefit of getting older. I had a Model 457 - two-tone - back in the late 90's before we moved to Germany to work for many years. Sold it and have regretted it since. Finally found one that really does look NIB on GB. Upfront, I understand these are budget pistols and a lot of older shooters here will be looking down their noses at it - but I'm tickled to have found it.

All of this said - I do not like the cheap polymer rear sight. Seems like I remember that the factory dovetail on these will not accomodate the nice-ish steel sight like is installed on my 4516. What do the smart people here think - am I out of luck? It still hasn't arrived yet so I can't compare the sight to the rear on my 4516. Thanks!