Sheard, of Tacoma, Washington.

Were any of these factory original on a Triple Lock Target Model, or other model Smith & Wesson, or were all after market?

I know nothing about the TL but yes, Sheard sights were an available option on several target model S&W revolvers back in the day. I have at least two in my safe that shipped from the factory with a Sheard front sight. There may be more, but one .32-20 and one .22/32 come to my mind immediately.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I'm going to say factory original on (some) Triple Lock Targets, and I can't prove a word of it. I had one-----likely not sold yet, so I still have it------but it carries what I swear and be damned is a Sheard blade. It's not marked as such, and the letter doesn't say one word about it, but it's numbered to the gun----original. It's a 7 1/2" Target---#3976---first year gun shipped early on in 1909---February 23.

Ralph Tremaine

Plus what was said above ... and for sure they were available as a factory option on the 1935 .357 Magnum. Here's an excerpt from the brochure...



I also have one (installed after it left the factory) on this well used little Bekaert 22/32 Heavy Frame Target (pardon the poor quality phone pics):

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Here is a picture of the orignal shipping packaging for a 35-A Sheard blade. I've placed the blade approximately in the middle of the package.



Regards, Mike Priwer

I once owned a .32-20 M&P Target that had a Sheard front sight. I didn't get a letter, but that sight had been on there for decades.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

This may be right---may be wrong---or may just be picking a nit, but I'm going to suggest Mike's pictured blade was made by Marble---and of course after they bought Sheard. (I say "bought Sheard", I don't know that they actually did that. I know they bought at least some of Sheard's patents---or the rights to produce sights coverered by those patents.)

Ralph Tremaine

So, other than Sheard, what other manufacturers would have provided sights for installation at the time of manufacture?

The reason for this original question is that often the Sheard sight tends to exhibit more wear than the rest of the firearm, leading me to question originality and hence the origination of this question.

Lyman, I believe, would be providing sights. I have a Lyman Ivory bead that letters on an early 1905 4" Target that would pre-date the Triple Locks.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Ralph, et al

Here are a couple pictures of a factory-engraved 1905 given as a gift, by Doug Wesson, to Ira McKay, his hunting guide in Maine. The pictures are only of the front sight blade. It is marked Sheard on one side, and Marble 35-D on the other side.





I do have a Sheard, or Marble, catalog, and when/if I can find it, I see what it has to say.

Regards, Mike

The one on my TL says Sheard on the left, and Tacoma Washington on the right side.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

I found the Marble Catalog, and inside the front cover is a picture of the founder, and the address of the company, showing it to be Gladstone (?) Michigan. I do recall seeing a Sheard Blade with the Tacoma mark on it.

Both Sheard and Marble No. 35 sight blades are shown. They are different, as these pictures will show. This first picture is the Sheard sight, as I am accustomed to seeing it.



This next picture shows the Marble sight, and it is described as a bead sight with different color beads available. The bead is mounted on the rear vertical surface of the blade, and resembles a McGivern bead.



The last picture is closeup of the No 35 Marble blade by itself.



The two blades, Sheard and Marble, are different styles, and suggests that they were two different companies. Perhaps one acquired the other, and my guess is that Marble acquired Sheard. This is because both blades are shown in the Marble catalog. The gun I described earlier has both companies name stamped on the blade, suggesting that Marble made the blade sometime after the combining of the two companies, and at that point, the Sheard name meant the Sheard style,

Regards, Mike Priwer

As an additional comment about Marble & Sheard, it seems to me that there were/are two different styles of S&W bead blades.

The first style seems based on the early Paine bead blade, in which the bead forms the top of the blade, as though it's a cylinder sitting on top. Generally, this includes the Paine, Sheard, and Lyman bead sights.

The second style has a button-like attachment set in the rear face of the blade. This includes the Marble, Call, and McGivern bead blades. The King post blades would also be of this style.

Regards, Mike Priwer