RM & Non-Rm Rear Sight Base ?

walkinghorse · #1 09-26-2017, 11:21 AM

Were any of the sight bases for these revolvers ever checkered ?

410bore · #2 09-26-2017, 11:39 AM

The rear sights were smooth on top and serrated on the rear surface below the rear sight blade

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rct269 · #3 09-26-2017, 11:46 AM

I've never seen one----which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt---------absolutely nothing!!

Mr. Jinks' response to questions such as these goes along these lines: "They (S&W) would do anything anybody would pay them to do." If/when such "extras" were done prior to shipping, the extra charge is going to appear on the invoice. If (BIG IF) the extra charge is explained on the invoice, then the letter on the gun will almost certainly speak to that. Often times there's simply an extra charge. That, in and of itself, says "special order"---and then it's on you to figure out what's special about it.

The good news (on RM's at least) is the historical foundation. They will almost always have chapter and verse on those guns---they had TEN PAGES of stuff on mine---and EIGHT PAGES on a .22 Outdoorsman------so you never know until you ask.

Ralph Tremaine

Same church, different pew---------------I have an M&P Model of 1902 Target which was delivered to "shop"---a S&W foreman. It has a service date on the grip frame---7-8 years after shipping. The gun is essentially as new, so it figures to have spent it's life in a sock drawer---with no need for repair/refinishing/whatever---AND it has a checkered trigger. There was no mention of "special order" nor checkered trigger in the letter, so it figures that trigger came along later. That's my take on the situation---and it's my gun so my take is the only one that matters. Same goes for you and your gun.

Doc44 · #4 09-26-2017, 12:59 PM

Ralph is correct S&W would do (particularly back in the 30s) most anything a person would pay for, but basically the answer is no rear sight was checkered, but grooved. I have researched many Registered Magnums for collectors and have never found one with a checkered rear sight base.

Bill

Hondo44 · #5 09-26-2017, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkinghorse

Were any of the sight bases for these revolvers ever checkered ?

You might mean the front tang or you might mean the the rear below the sight blade, we can't tell from your question.

Front tang:
I've seen a few Non RMs with checkered tangs that just disappear into the top strap, they look so good. Factory? Special order? I don't know.

Rear surface under the blade:
Seen both smooth and grooved on non-RMs.

RM 492 serrated

Smooth; not an RM or non-RM. Likely an incorrect replacement if found on either one.

Fine checkered on factory TL Target special order. Was it ever done on RM's? I don't know but seems possible:

iskra · #6 09-27-2017, 01:00 AM

Sure not an RM expert here. Just to note my RM, SN 485xx, fits the apparent standard top strap/sight pattern as illustrated by Hondo44 above. File pix offered below and...
My take

410bore · #7 09-27-2017, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

You might mean the front tang or you might mean the the rear below the sight blade, we can't tell from your question.

Front tang:

I've seen a few Non RMs with checkered tangs that just disappear into the top strap, they look so good. Factory? Specia; order? I don't know.

Rear surface under the blade:

These must have been an option smooth early on and serrated later but the change does not correspond to RM or non RM. seen both smooth and grooved on non-RMs.

RM 492 serrated

This is a later RM smooth

Fine checkered on factory TL Target special order. Was it ever done on RM's? I don't know but seems possible:

Your second picture is not an RM - either a 38/44 or 44 tgt

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murphydog · #8 09-27-2017, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 410bore

Your second picture is not an RM - either a 38/44 or 44 tgt

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Hey, give Jim a break...all that typing about .32 HEs and TLs is tiring.

Hondo44 · #9 09-27-2017, 06:29 AM

Kris,

Good eye and thank you! My brain shuts off after 8 PM. Got my photo links and captions mixed up (again) when I lost some photos in the photobucket fiasco.

Glad you caught that.

Wiregrassguy · #10 09-27-2017, 09:53 AM

If that is a .38/44, why does it have a RM HB hammer? Or were all the HB hammers' tangs fully checkered?

410bore · #11 09-27-2017, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

If that is a .38/44, why does it have a RM HB hammer? Or were all the HB hammers' tangs fully checkered?

all HBH are fully checkered. RM HBH's had grooved sides where this one is smooth

Hondo44 · #12 09-27-2017, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

If that is a .38/44, why does it have a RM HB hammer? Or were all the HB hammers' tangs fully checkered?

HB hammers were also optional on other guns but with smooth sides.

The standard RM hammer always has the “concentric relief cuts” as well.

Both the HB (even on other models) and standard RM hammer spurs were always checkered.

RM with RM humpback hammers always have the “concentric relief cuts” on hammer sides (Smith’s terminology in their literature):

It's interesting to note that the “concentric relief cuts” on hammer sides were already almost two decades old at the time of introduction on the RMs. They first appeared as standard on model 1917 Army Models up thru serial #s 15,000 to 20,000. And only discontinued for expediency of war time production.