Gentlemen, I just picked up a reasonably priced 629–4 6 inch barrel with factory compensator. Unfortunately, the previous owner put on a scope mount and did not retain the rear sight. I found factory replacements at Midway USA for around 60 bucks but I’m not sure which height I want. The front sight is rather tall on this revolver. I’m thinking the .194 however if anybody else has ideas, please let me know. Also, anyone give me a born on date with a serial number of CAH18XX thanks
629-4 rear sight help
- Thread starter 3Gunnah
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A CAH prefix serial number most likely indicate a mid 1990s production, probably 1995
You have not provided enough information about your revolver for us to make an educated guess on the rear site
Do you have the original box? The end label will have the exact date of manufacture printed on the label in code. Additionally it will have a 6 digit product code that defines the firearm's configuration.
If you do not have the original box, a telephone call to the factory will get you the product code. Once you provide them with the serial number of course, and it will also allow them to pull up a parts list for the build of that particular revolver. From there they should be able to give you the part number of which rear sight you need to purchase
The confusion comes about with the phrase "factory compensator". Model 629s of that era had multiple different methods of reducing muzzle rise, all of which tend to be called compensators by the public. There was a 5 inch with a removal V-Comp, there was a 6 1/2 inch with a Power Port, there was the 629 Competitor which was Mag-na-Ported, and there are others that do not come to mind including a 7 1/2 inch that I believe had a removable V-Comp.
Posting some images of your revolver would help us narrow this down a little bit
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It’s a 6.5 inch with the power port. I do not have the original box unfortunately and have not had a chance to take any pictures yet. I will give Smith a call on Monday. I really want to get a rear site back on instead of the scope rail. I know it’s a fairly early –4 because it does not have any MIM parts in it I have had several -4 in the past that had MIM cylinder latch release and Trigger. This does not have either of those.
Yendor357
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That drives me nuts when somebody takes vital parts off a very fine firearm, and doesn’t keep track of them. And is it really that hard to keep the box?
I looked at my standard barreled 629-4 and my 5 inch 629-4 Classic. They do indeed have different rear sights. So I can’t be of much help.
Congrats on the fine revolver purchase. Those old -4s were/are GREAT!
I looked at my standard barreled 629-4 and my 5 inch 629-4 Classic. They do indeed have different rear sights. So I can’t be of much help.
Congrats on the fine revolver purchase. Those old -4s were/are GREAT!
Product code 103624
It was introduced at the SHOT Show in 1996, initial production was started in 1995 so there would be inventory available in January
These were made into the early 2000s. There are examples around that have the lock, so that would be a post 2001/2002 manufactured revolver
Well, I called Smith And Wesson with the serial number and they were able to tell me that I need a .126 height rear site however I have not found one of those available anywhere for sale and I’m a little leery of the information because the guy also told me that my 629–4 was produced in 2009. I asked him if he was sure about that because I had heard that the -4 was discontinued in 1997 but he was quite adamant that it was produced in 2009. Now I’m wondering if he even has a clue about the height of the rear site does .126 sound correct to you guys?
I can’t tell you anything positively since I don’t have a gun like yours but I’d suggest you start with a .146” height and see what you have based on point of impact with your preferred ammunition. It’s a simple matter to change blades if you need another height.
The .126” height blade maybe be correct but owing to the sight picture it presents, I’d a lot rather use a .146 blade, or even a .160, if I could. If your front sight is readily interchangeable, maybe working with it, too, to get the sight picture and point of impact you like is a possibility.
The .126” height blade maybe be correct but owing to the sight picture it presents, I’d a lot rather use a .146 blade, or even a .160, if I could. If your front sight is readily interchangeable, maybe working with it, too, to get the sight picture and point of impact you like is a possibility.
Looking at the image of the revolver, it does appear to be wearing a very short rear sight. Short rear makes sense if you have a taller front sight.
Image courtesy of Proxibid
As Joel mentions, there's nothing wrong with starting with the .146 site assembly. Depending on your particular load it might possibly be right. If it turns out to shoot too high, the sight blade kits are only about $15 and you can change a blade out in 10 minutes once you're used to it, perhaps half an hour if it's new to you
Image courtesy of Proxibid
As you can see in the image, Product Code 103624 has a patridge front sight that is pinned in place. The IFS does not work with the Power Port revolvers because the hole in the front of the sight base would allow some of the redirected propellant gasses to flow through
As Joel mentions, there's nothing wrong with starting with the .146 site assembly. Depending on your particular load it might possibly be right. If it turns out to shoot too high, the sight blade kits are only about $15 and you can change a blade out in 10 minutes once you're used to it, perhaps half an hour if it's new to you
