19-3 Rear Sight Blade

[tocohillsguy]

I'm considering replacing the black rear sight blade on my snub 19-3 with a rear blade that has a white outline. I see they sell them with and without the windage screw. Is there some reason I should spend the additional dollars and buy the screw, or can I reuse the existing parts and just replace the blade? Any particular "tricks of the trade" I need to keep in mind when changing out the blade?

 

[GerSan69]

Hi Toco, you won't be able to re-use the screw and nut because the screw is peened into the nut. When you try to unscrew from the sight base, the screw will break... it's made that way. You'll be able to re-use the spring and pin from the screw head, but only if you capture them as they come out of the base. I use a gallon-size baggie for this part, as well as re-assembly. Trust me, I learned the hard way that you cannot find these tiny parts when they fly across the room and disappear in the carpet!!
When you do reassemble, remove the base from your gun before peening the new screw. It's the easiest way to do it. Use the baggie for reassembly.
If you haven't bought your new blade yet, look for one that comes with the screw and nut. Easier than looking for the parts separately and paying extra for shipping.

 

[tocohillsguy]

GerSan69, thank you. I take it that the screws holding the sight base down must not be similarly peened.

 

[dlbx2]

You will need a center punch with the correct bevel. Also, turn the screw so that the sight blade comes all the way to the right, and keep turning until you feel it break. Midway arms has the tool for the locking nut, and the proper center punch. They aren't very expensive, and if you get your sight kit from them, it will save on shipping. I have replaced about 10 of them, and the correct tools makes a difference. Good Luck!
DLB

 

[H Richard]

To expand on what GerSan69 said, the windage adjustment screw which you must turn so it brings the blade all the way to the right, and then some, to break the shaft so it can be removed. Contained within the head of the adjustment screw is a teeny tiny detente and spring that will fly out to never never land if you do not have them contained within a large plastic bag.

The screw that holds the sight base to the frame is a normal screw and teeny enough. Take care with the correct screwdriver blade if you remove it. You do not have to remove it from the gun, and leaving the sight assembly on the gun usually makes the operation easier as you can hold onto it better. When ordering the rear sight blade, be sure to order the correct size. They come in many different height's to accommodate the various different calibers and barrel lengths.

 

[GerSan69]

H, for my own education, I was led to believe back in the day that doing the peening with the sight in the gun can possibly cause the sight base to bend. Not so?

 

[H Richard]

Don't understand what you are "Peening"? If you mean setting the flair on the new sight nut to lock it in place, you set it against a bench block, and just a few taps are needed to flair it out. Always have it supported on the far side.

 

[GerSan69]

Yes, "flair." Thank you, that was what I was asking.

 

[rbmac52]

If available, you might want to specify the rear sight slide with rounded outside corners. The 2-1/2" combat magnums came from the factory with this style, while the 4 and 6 inch guns had rear sight slides with sharp angular outside corners.

I'd post a pic showing the difference, but I don't have an example with the 2/1/2" barrel. Maybe someone who does can post a comparison pic for you.

 

[nvark]

just bought a white outlined rear blade from Smith. Line was very thin and light. Was very disappointed. Might want to try another source. The other guys pretty well said it all, except I didn't flair the screw, just used some loc-tite on the threads.

 

[stang68]

I have a 19-2 and just used white fingernail polish, works & looks great

 

[jglsprings]

You can find a video on youtube:

Search for "replace sight midway potterfield"

Midwayusa has a demo video that shows how to do it.