Hello guys, some of you may remember me asking about a rear sight for my model 19-5 nickel plated with a 6 inch barrel awhile back. I managed to acquire a rear sight from a stainless gun, the rear sight is also stainless. I was wondering how to measure the rear sight height on the assembly, since the seller did not know what model or barrel length it came off of. If you could please tell me how to measure the blade height that would be great.

Thanks!

If you're referring to the sight blade, turn the windage adjustment screw to crank it to one side enough to get a caliper on it or a scale next to it.

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SWHF #448

Ok, I did that and it measures .112 give or take a thousandth. The assembly fits my frame perfectly, but I have never heard of a blade that short. The proper height for my revolver is .146, didn't know if I was measuring it incorrectly or if somebody had filed on the sight I bought?

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SWHF #448

The rear sight chart confirms .146" height is correct for a Model 19. That same chart lists a .106" height for a Model 15 and a .126" height for a Model 14 . . . so they do come "shorter".

Here is a picture that measures the rear blade out of the assembly, just to give you an idea where to take the measurement.



Russ

edit to add: db was thoughtful enough to post the chart . . . if you need a .146" rear blade, sent me a PM

Thanks for the replies. I pushed the blade over to the side, and it measured about .112 with my calipers, so looking at the chart I am assuming it shot high for somebody in the past, and they filed it down. The sight is stainless, supposedly came off a model 66 or 67 and I am putting it on a model 19. I have to make an order to get the rear stud, spring, and plunger for it, so adding a rear sight blade isn't a big deal, I would have just preferred to keep it all stainless (no black blade) and I am a little worried about getting the new one installed correctly.

You'll probably find a black blade on that stainless sight an improvement. Those stainless sights are somewhat notorious for a poor sight picture as the light-colored metal tends to get lost in light.

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SWHF #448

Ok thank you, I will most likely wind up replacing it with a black blade. I just thought it was pretty neat that it matched the bead blasted front patridge sight so well.

There were only two all stainless rear sight assemblies made. The 0.146” was for a 4” model 66 and the approximately 0.110” was for a 4” model 67. Depending on what angle the light came from they were often hard to see so many of those assemblies were replaced with blued ones and even more had only their blade changed to a blued blade. Consequently lots of collectors are looking for all stainless rear sight to restore their 67 or 66. Stainless windage bolts and nuts have not been available for a long time so even if the stainless blade was retained the base cannot be restored to an all stainless sight.

Your 19 would be correct with a blued sight assembly and the whole rear sight being dark gives a better sight picture than only a dark blade. It would be a shame to remove the stainless blade when you may well be able to trade a rear sight that will look wrong on your 19 for two correct sight assemblies.

What date was your rear sight blade height chart published?

Thanks for posting it.

I have no idea when the chart was published, it's just something I found on the net awhile ago. It can't be any earlier than the late '70s as it has the Model 629 listed but there are no L-frames listed, so it's likely from the very early '80s.

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SWHF #448