686 rear sight refinishing

[SW CQB 45]

I am planning to resurrect my original issued 686 (ABSxxxx) for service revovler competiton but the rear sight finish is worn to shiny metal on the corners, serrations and exposed flats when drawing from a Bianchi Hurricane Clamshell holster. it polished the finish with each draw

to restore the finish on standard SW rear adj sights,

are these just

blued
black oxide
other

thanks in advance

also, what are the SW factory woods called, exposed back strap, covered front strap and cutout horn for right hand thumb. those are the grips I used for duty and hated them, but they feel good now. I guess after 20 years, your likes change.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

I'd think the sights are blued. The stocks are either Magnas or target stocks, but I'd lean on the targets. Do you have a picture or a link so I or someone else would get the grip answer correct for you?

 

[skeeterbait]

They are steel and I believe blued. I have touched mine up with bluing before and it blended well. Clean the sight well with alcohol, warm it up a bit with a hair dryer, and swab a little cold bluing on. Give it a minute and rag it off. Repeat the process until it is blended to your liking.

 

[SW CQB 45]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/91901-my-first-s-w-686-4-now-my-second.html

the grips are very similiar to the attached.

Since I was issued this in 89, and the gun had seen service prior to me 81-89, it was not taken care of and the grips were dinged bad.

so I rolled the edges with sandpaper. it looks like a dehorned model with no sharp edges on the bottom.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Targets in the pictures

 

[dfariswheel]

I don't know when or if they changed, but older S&W stainless revolver rear sights were stainless steel with some type of blackened finish.

These are stamped with an "S" on the underside of the leaf section.
They will not blue.

If in doubt, wipe a bare spot off with Acetone and check with some cold blue.

 

[SW CQB 45]

thanks for the info.