686 front sight blade

[nyrico]

I just picked up a 686 no dash in decent condition, but , I have a few questions:

1. I have searched , but , I cannot find a vendor that carries the original, I think, sight blade. I want to find the ramped front sight with red insert. I saw on Midway that they have a red ramped front blade, but , it is not drilled, is this the only way that I will find it or can it be sourced drilled and ready to drop in?

2. I have ordered new Hogue Mono grips for it, it has Pachmyrs, but, I didn't like the hand feel compared to the newer 686 with Hogue that I held at an LGS. I was told that my 686 would feel different with Hogues than the new model I held, I know that mine is a square butt and the newer ones are round , but, basically the same gun right? Also it seems that the original grips were the Goncalvo Alves checkered grips, can these be sourced new?

3. What can I wipe it down with to clean it up? It is in good shape, but, I would like a little shine up ( not mirror finish ) and to even the finish, just some luster. I have read about Flitz , and lead cleaning cloths and I know this is a preference question that has been asked, but, what works well for a quick clean up shine? I ordered Renaissance wax already to go over it once cleaned to help keep it this way, can this be used for a clean up rub down?


Thanks in advance.

[OKFC05]

1. Drilling the blade is done at the time of installation using your gun as the template.
2. I use the Pachmayr Pro Gripper on the SB 686, since my hands are medium sized. They are easier to shoot double action than the Pachmayr Presentations or the wood target grips.
3. You can polish the finish with a lot of things, but the original finish is matte, and you have to be careful about winding up with a non-uniform surface. I just clean mine with gun solvent, then alcohol, then wax to protect.

[Gunhacker]

If you're wanting to make this a DYI job, rather than removing the current blade, I'd go with a front sight insert kit from Brownells. Far more easier to file a dovetail slot into the top of the ramp and fill it with colored insert epoxy, than what you have to do to replace the sight blade.

[SmithMarine]

First, no one noticed you said 686 no-dash. The no-dash front sights were milled as part of the barrel and are not pinned or changeable. To replace a no-dash sight, you have to mill off the sight and mill a channel for the replacement sight. Then you have to drill both a hole in the replacement sight, but the ramp too since there was not one there. You will need a pin too since there is no old one to use. S&W will do this work for a price.