I have been looking for an MGW or S&W (made by MGW) sight pusher for the 3rd gen guns for quite awhile with no success. A recent thread about some homemade versions got me thinking about this and wondering why I have been unable to find these things and wondering if MGW would consider making them again if a large enough order were placed.
So I called MGW and talked to one of the guys there.
What he told me was that they discontinued production of these sight pushers during the time the 3rd gen S&Ws were still in regular production and told S&W that MGW would no longer supply them and that if S&W wanted to offer the tools they would need to find another supplier. The reason, according to MGW, is that the tolerance for the rear sight notch width on the 3rd gen S&Ws was too great, and therefore some notches were so tight that the pushers would not work. He mentioned the tolerance range, but I don't remember. Some people were resorting to all kinds of methods to gain extra leverage when using the MGW tool and thus destroying the tools or perhaps causing other damage.
The guy at MGW said that S&W uses a hydraulic press to fit the sights, so the tolerances don't cause problems for them at the factory, but on some guns a hand tool would not work. MGW did not want to deal with the problems they encountered when the pusher did not work and/or destroyed the pusher. MGW said they were not interested in making the pushers again no matter what size order one might place, because they could not stand behind the product under these circumstances.
So, if you are hoping to get an MGW or S&W pusher, you will need to find one used, they will not be made again. And, whether you buy one of those or one of the homemade deals that are springing up, don't blame the maker of the tool if you can't move your sight.
I will buy one of the tools that are out there now with the expectation that it may not work on every gun.
I am just repeating what I was told.
So I called MGW and talked to one of the guys there.
What he told me was that they discontinued production of these sight pushers during the time the 3rd gen S&Ws were still in regular production and told S&W that MGW would no longer supply them and that if S&W wanted to offer the tools they would need to find another supplier. The reason, according to MGW, is that the tolerance for the rear sight notch width on the 3rd gen S&Ws was too great, and therefore some notches were so tight that the pushers would not work. He mentioned the tolerance range, but I don't remember. Some people were resorting to all kinds of methods to gain extra leverage when using the MGW tool and thus destroying the tools or perhaps causing other damage.
The guy at MGW said that S&W uses a hydraulic press to fit the sights, so the tolerances don't cause problems for them at the factory, but on some guns a hand tool would not work. MGW did not want to deal with the problems they encountered when the pusher did not work and/or destroyed the pusher. MGW said they were not interested in making the pushers again no matter what size order one might place, because they could not stand behind the product under these circumstances.
So, if you are hoping to get an MGW or S&W pusher, you will need to find one used, they will not be made again. And, whether you buy one of those or one of the homemade deals that are springing up, don't blame the maker of the tool if you can't move your sight.
I will buy one of the tools that are out there now with the expectation that it may not work on every gun.
I am just repeating what I was told.
