S&W Novak sights
- Thread starter Doug44
- Start date
JohnHL
SWCA Member
S&W 3rd gen pistols are the only generation of S&W, metal framed, center fire, semi-automatic pistols based on the pre-model 39, to use Novak sights.
The dovetail is the same on all of them.
John
The dovetail is the same on all of them.
John
If you find a second gen pistol with Novak sights, guaranteed they are not original. Novak rear sights became a standard during the production of the third gen pistols. Early production 3rd gen pistols, those with the hooked trigger guard, usually have the 2nd gen sights.
I thought some of the SW1911s had the same dovetail.
The S&W Novaks have a different angle on the dovetail than other Novak sights for some dumb reason.
Rosewood
JohnHL
SWCA Member
I am aware of that, your wording confused me. I thought you meant any S&W (generation meaning any not specifically 1-3).
JohnHL
SWCA Member
If you think my wording is confusing...
Just imagine my thought processes!
John
Just imagine my thought processes!
John
Fastbolt
Member
The SW1911 used the same rear Novak sight as was used on the 3913/53's. (#10792)
It looked a bit odd at first because the way they cut the slide of the SW1911 ended up creating a bit of extra gap space underneath the rear of the base. We were told that since the existing rear Novak sight had the right height, they'd just decided to go with the same sight base used in the 3rd gen compact since they already had it.
FWIW, nowadays S&W has changed over to making their own steel sights in-house.
Not sure what they're using now, or in the E-Series guns, as I didn't keep up on the parts lists for them. Besides, I only needed to keep up on the standard SW1911's, since I owned one and some of the guys bought them. I ordered the Extractor Bar Gauge and a couple extra pins. (I was told the newer machining for the 1911 slides had resulted in the extractors generally dropping in without any fitting/filing, but I ordered the Bar Gauge anyway, just to add it to my tool kit.) The standard SW1911 .45 extractor was the same 3rd gen extractor used in the .40's, while the E-series got the taller PC .45 extractor.
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BigMuddy
Member
Fastbolt
Member
I know, but the while the ubiquitous 9/.40 sight is common for many of their models, I figured it would be easiest to recognize for the 3913, and my point was they used the existing Novak 3rd gen rear sight for their then-new 1911.
