19-4 Non-replaceable Front Sight?

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jbradleyharris

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I recently ran across a nice 4" blue Model 19-4 at my LGS and bought it right up. It has the target hammer, trigger and stocks but not the red insert front or white outline rear sights.

I bought a white outline rear blade kit and a red insert front sight but when I went to install them I discovered that the front sight appears to be milled right into the barrel rather than being pinned. I had been told that sometimes the finish is so good that the sight pin can be virtually invisible, but I examined it under 40x magnification and can find no trace of a pin.

I also have a 28-2 and an older K22 and those front sights appear to be monolithic as well. It was my understanding that all K and N frame guns had pinned front sights. Was I wrong?

Thanks in advance for clearing this up for. me . . .
 
You were wrong.

At some point, and perhaps another member knows, S&W stopped pinning the front sight on standard length barrels.
 
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Welcome to posting, almost 9 years after registering!

Agree with Ben, if the red insert/ramp front sight blade is your goal there is no need to remove it from the base. My guess is that it would be easier to do the job with the blade on the gun.

I recall there is a Brownell's how-to video on YouTube (the fount of all current knowledge) with exact instructions.

And congratulations on your new model 19!
 
I have the same question for my 686-1. Is this front sight fixed and apart of the barrel or is the a pin somewhere that I just cannot see? This particular revolver is for competition in the 25 yard service match shot here in Australia. I'm hoping I can swap it out and put in a patridge sight.

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My M67 met Mr Milling Machine and now has a cross dovetail fibre optic front sight, which I prefer to the ramp insert. It also got the Weigand "barn door" rear blade. And a trigger stop.
It isn't "original" but it shoots better.
 
Truckman said:
If you just absolutely must have a red insert on the front sight of that particular gun, and you're good with a small file, it can still be done...:o...Ben
Click to expand...

I did that on my 4 in nickel 19, 4 in nickel 18 and a 4 in 28. I carefully Filed in the dovetail with a 1/4 in square file and a safe sided triangular file. Used material from a bright red tooth brush handle. Fitted overs sized and glued in place. Later trimmed for an exact fit. Did this over 30 years ago and they are still in place.
 
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As a more difficult, but ultimately more convenient and versatile, method - Bowen makes a front sight base that accepts the DX-style, interchangeable sight blades. The entire front sight and integral base are milled off and a channel milled into the rib. A hole is then drilled and tapped in the channel. The base is screwed into the channel and the blades install easily by hand.

Here is a link to the base on Bowen's website...
DX Front Sight Bases : +Parts Store+, Bowen Classic Arms

And here is my 586 with the base installed with a FO sight blade...
Bowen-Sight-base.jpg

Bowen-sight-base-A.jpg


Adios,

Pizza Bob
 
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I offer you welcome and thank you for your post.

Realize that you did not ask, but to get a field expedient red front sight, you can apply some model paint in the color you prefer, likely red or green (and some say over a base coat of white model paint). I have done this, without the base coat, and all have held up for years.

Also, maintaining originality on a collector gun is not a bad idea - the paint can be easily removed with acetone or nail polish remover whereas the non original red insert cannot. Just a thought.
 
I may file a notch in the front sight and fill it in with red-tinted casting resin, per the video. I did this to a pretty rough Ruger Blackhawk that I picked up years ago that had the sight painted with red glitter nail polish. I'm just hesitant to do any modifications that I can't reverse.

As far as taking so long to post for the first time, y'all answer my questions before I ask them, for which I offer my sincere thanks!
 
jbradleyharris said:
I may file a notch in the front sight and fill it in with red-tinted casting resin, per the video. I did this to a pretty rough Ruger Blackhawk that I picked up years ago that had the sight painted with red glitter nail polish. I'm just hesitant to do any modifications that I can't reverse.

As far as taking so long to post for the first time, y'all answer my questions before I ask them, for which I offer my sincere thanks!
Click to expand...

""I'm just hesitant to do any modifications that I can't reverse. ""

A wise decision
 
I picked up one of Brownell's kits in an auction back in March in a box of other smithing stuff. Instructions are good and a friend wanted an insert put in. Worked fine. He's happy anyway. Don't know what they cost from Brownell's
 
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