ScreechingWeasel
Member
Hey all, I have a very late 5-screw pre-27 (S173xxx serial, lettered to 1958), 5" barrel, blued (in excellent condition with only one minor wear mark on the cylinder), with non-numbered period-correct Magnas, and plain black Baughman ramp sight with plain black rear.
Well, a while ago, a minor cleaning mishap resulted in the rear sight blade getting bent, but no other damage to the gun. Now, I have to replace the sight, and it's well within my capabilities, (the only thing that bugs me is that the replacement rear sight screw won't be the period-correct flat-topped version), but I wonder about using the opportunity to change the sight over. I don't mind the ramp-style, so I probably won't change to a Patridge or Call/McGivern bead type, but since I can order a WO rear sight blade, what about having a smith modify the front blade and converting over to the the "typical" RR/WO, which should be period correct? I don't want to replace the entire front sight on the barrel, since the pins are the original ones, finished flush with the barrel rib, and the work is utterly perfect. Kinda wanna keep that the way it is.
So what are y'all's thoughts? Replace the black rear sight blade with a like type, or convert to RR/WO? I'm mainly worried about affecting value, (originality is where value is at), but on the other hand, I have no plans to sell it, the gun doesn't have the original grips or box or papers, and is a shooter, (though nice enough and pretty enough to be a safe queen). I don't like not shooting my guns, (my logic is: what, you don't wanna **** your girlfriend so she's "fresher" for her next boyfriend?) so modifications like sights and grips to increase usability are A-OK to me. I have the RR/WO on a few other S&Ws and like it, but I'm alright with either sight, I just need some nudges either way for this particular gun.
Thanks in advance!
Well, a while ago, a minor cleaning mishap resulted in the rear sight blade getting bent, but no other damage to the gun. Now, I have to replace the sight, and it's well within my capabilities, (the only thing that bugs me is that the replacement rear sight screw won't be the period-correct flat-topped version), but I wonder about using the opportunity to change the sight over. I don't mind the ramp-style, so I probably won't change to a Patridge or Call/McGivern bead type, but since I can order a WO rear sight blade, what about having a smith modify the front blade and converting over to the the "typical" RR/WO, which should be period correct? I don't want to replace the entire front sight on the barrel, since the pins are the original ones, finished flush with the barrel rib, and the work is utterly perfect. Kinda wanna keep that the way it is.
So what are y'all's thoughts? Replace the black rear sight blade with a like type, or convert to RR/WO? I'm mainly worried about affecting value, (originality is where value is at), but on the other hand, I have no plans to sell it, the gun doesn't have the original grips or box or papers, and is a shooter, (though nice enough and pretty enough to be a safe queen). I don't like not shooting my guns, (my logic is: what, you don't wanna **** your girlfriend so she's "fresher" for her next boyfriend?) so modifications like sights and grips to increase usability are A-OK to me. I have the RR/WO on a few other S&Ws and like it, but I'm alright with either sight, I just need some nudges either way for this particular gun.
Thanks in advance!
