You may recall, I posted a photo of this 22/32 Target on February 6th with the illustrated red-ramp front sight.



It also came to me with a white-outline rear. I had never seen this before on a 22/32. The gun was shipped in 1956 and letters with the stock patridge front and black rear. Obviously, my sights were added after the original sale. My post was in response to bdGreen’s great post about his 22/32 with a factory installed front bead.

Anyway, I was in a gun store Saturday and noted a SW 35, shipped in the early 70’s with the same exact combo (red ramp front and white outline rear) as mine. Caught me by surprise. Below are the photos of this newer gun and it’s box label. Nothing unusual about the box label (to me), but I am not sure what the P9 code means in the Special Features box. Any ideas?

[img]https://i.imgur.com/***ey4E.jpg[/img]



The sight installation appears identical to mine. Any chance in the world that each gun was sent back to the factory for this work at some time after the sales, or was the work more likely done by a private smith. Anyway of finding out? Mostly just curious.

I'm betting the sights were done at the factory. Does your gun, or the 35-1, have indications of a factory refinish? I have a 48 no dash that went back to the factory in 1969 for a refinish and I suspect the red ramp and white outline rear sight were added then.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Fairly new or small dealer? My guess would be that acquisition of that gun is recorded on page 9 of his "bound book." Is, or used to be, very common for a dealer to make such marks on the box so that he could find the right line in the book to log out the gun when sold.

P.S. Of course, that could have been done by the original dealer, or any in between.

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Formerly Model520Fan

I have a M48-3 that was sent back to the factory back in the day. It had a 8 3/8" bbl. installed, Red Ramp and W/O rear, target hammer and trigger, a pair of target stocks, and a beautiful nickel plate. Someone had a beautiful revolver made up. I have 3 others a 6" and 2 more 8 3/8"s, but the 4" no dash still eludes me. Jeff, that's a beautiful revolver. Big Larry

Sometimes a special order sight is grease penciled on the bottom of the box.

I do find it interesting both sport a proud pin.

I have a model of 1955 .22/32 Airweight Kit Gun that was shipped July 1955. Do our guns have the same width front sight?

Around 1985 my dad sent the gun to S&W for RRWO sights. They said they could not install the red ramp because the sight blade was too narrow for the tool they used. My dad suggested a different tool and the job was done.

If we have the same width sight then your modification was probably not done by S&W unless it was after 1985.

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David Reynolds

Both of these front sights are of exactly the same width, height, and shape as the front sights on my 34-1 and my 51. No signs of a refinish on either my .22/32 Target or the 35-1 at the store.. Maybe the pins are proud to help preserve the original finish on the revolvers during the sight switches?
All your insights are helpful. Thanks.