I am trying to determine if there may be a problem with the rear sight windage adjustment assembly on my S&W revolver. (Or if everything is ok.) When I got the revolver, the windage screw and nut were loose and the entire windage assembly (the shaft, the nut, and the screw) moved left and right as one. Then I called S&W, and he advised me to tighten the windage nut, which I did. He mentioned that it may not have been properly staked, but I didn't get into more detail with him. After I tightened the windage nut, the left-right looseness did go away.
The windage assembly seems to be working properly now. That is, I can adjust the blade left and right by turning the windage adjustment screw accordingly, and everything seems to stay in adjustment, no looseness.
I am wondering if I should try to stake (or re-stake) the windage nut, or if I should leave it alone. I don't want it loosening up while I am shooting, but by the same token, maybe I should not mess with it and risk damaging something.
What are your thoughts? And if I should re-stake the windage nut, how is that done? Do I need a special punch?
Thanks

The windage screw will have a hole in the nut side if it has been staked it will be flared if not flared it has not been staked. I have staked a few replacement screws with a 1/4-20 tap (not a bottoming tap) just support the screw slot side of the sight and tap the tap with a light hammer blow, best to remove the sight from frame. Just do not over flare. Jeff

I took an old center punch and beveled the tip about 45 degrees. Used a 2 oz hammer to lightly flair the end.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks both of you, this is very helpful. I have two other Smiths, and looked at their rear sights, and based on how they look, I believe the nut is NOT staked on this one. Plus, I just found this video from Midway; and if you look at the "before" (at 1:55 into the video) and "after" (at 2.06) of the nut-staking, mine looks like the before. My other two Smiths look like the after:

(Hope it's ok to post a video.)

So now I have two follow up questions before I proceed:

1) What is the actual reason for staking the nut? Is it simply to prevent it from loosening up and falling out?

2) Do I need to have the rear sight blade and the adjusting screw in any particular position when I stake the nut? In other words, the rear sight blade is now adjusted in the approximate center. Can I leave it there when I stake the nut, or do I need to have it adjusted all the way left or right when I stake the nut?

Sorry for all the questions, but I don't want to screw it up. Thanks

Tighten the nut, well, “snug” it, then back it off 1/4-turn and stake it. It doesn’t matter where the blade is. Once you have the nut staked you can adjust the blade as needed.

The nut prevents the windage screw from moving out of the sight body to the right. You stake it to hold it in place on the threads of the screw.

1. Yes, to keep it from falling out.

2. The sight can be anywhere, but centered is probably a good place to be.

Also, something that was not clear to me the first time I did one of these was tha the end of the screw not only needs to flare, but also upset INTO the slot on the nut, which will lock the nut in place. The nut should spin with the screw and NOT allow the screw to thread farther into it.

OK thanks. The nut and screw are currently turning together, so that is good news, even though it's not staked. That's why I was wondering if I need to stake it at all.
I think I will take a shot at staking it, and hope for the best. (But not tonight.) I'll keep everyone posted. Worst I can do is have to order a kit to fix it if I screw it up.
Thanks again.

Just use a light hammer and light hit. If that doesn't quite do it just a little more. Doesn't take much to keep the nut on.

As M29since14 mentioned, you need to have a little bit of play in it by backing off the nut about 1/4 turn. If you don't & you have it too tight the screw will bind-up when you try to adjust it later.

Better it be a tad loose when you stake it as you can always take some play out with a re-stake but you can't do anything about it if it's too tight.

.



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Waiting for the break of day

Just getting back to everyone on this. I worked on the gun yesterday, and I think I now have the nut properly staked. It isn't fully "flared" like my other two Smiths, but everything seems to be in order. I tried several different punches, in case one would work better than the other, but none of them flared the nut fully outward, and I didn't want to wail on anything.
But, the nut no longer turns freely if I try to spin it, as it did before I tapped it with the punch. I have full range of motion on the windage adjustments, and the sight leaf doesn't wiggle back and forth. Plus, the screw and nut turn together. As a double check, I moved the windage adjustment all the way to the right and encountered some resistance near the end, meaning, I believe, that the screw is now staked. (And to turn it further would break the screw.)
Picture attached.
Thanks for everyone's help.

Attached Images

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