1980's 686 rear sight blade loose

[SteakKnife]

My 1980's 686 has developed a loose sight blade. It adjusts left to right fine but the blade wiggles slightly. Can I replace the blade? I have heard that the entire rear sight assembly is very hard to find and it is only the blade that is compromised. Thanks.

 

[D Brown]

Have you tried re-staking it?

 

[smithman]

The blade wiggles slightly on several S&Ws I've seen.

 

[Laketime]

Smith & Wessons have always had a cheap rear sight design. Almost all will wiggle some, that's normal. Their front sight's are one of the best out there.

 

[__steve__]

Two of mine have this, maybe 0.008" of movement. All of the play however is axial (e.g. left side up/right side down) and radial (fwd/aft), so it has negligible effect on precision. There is no side to side movement.

 

[Beancounter81]

Yes you can replace the sight blade. However, be aware that the new one may wiggle also.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I'm glad to hear it's no big deal, as the one on my 629-6 wiggles, but doesn't affect accuracy. I was going to call S&W, but since I'm retired I have no time!

 

[Professor Cassidy]

I have a 586 and 686 with sight blades that wiggle a little. I made some little shims out of .005 (?) clear styrene and stuck them in the little gap at the front of the sight blade. I cut a little notch in the styrene for the sight notch. These cleared up most of the wiggle. They sometimes move a little so I just push them back down into the gap. Haven't lost one yet.