Damaged Fixed Front Sight on SW64

[roo_ster]

Good Day:

QUESTION:
What is the best course of action to fix/ameliorate a damaged fixed front sight post?

THE REST OF THE STORY
* I recently purchased a used SW64 off gunbroker and it turns out it has had its fixed front sight damaged.
* Got a good deal and this is to be a bit of a project gun anyway, so I won't send it back.
* Besides, even with the buggered front sight post, it holds a nice, tight group at range. Good groups are worth some trouble.
*I f my images are coming through, you can see the FSP has had its top ground off at an angle.

POSSIBLE FIXES
1. File it down flat on top, live with geometry that will send shots higher
2. Drill through FSP, affix some sort of sight over it, and pin it.
3. Have a smith cut a dovetail and install dovetailed FSP.
4. Go whole hog and dovetail front & rear to install new front & rear sights, maybe even an adjustable rear.
(#2 & #3 will likely end up with a higher FSP & send shots low)

Anyone have opinions on my options or a new option I did not consider?

64_profile

front_sight_post_side01

front_sight_post_top

front_sight_post_front

 

[Protocall_Design]

The easiest would be a dovetailed front sight the same height as the original. While you're at it, you could have the new one be a fiber optic or night sight.

 

[roo_ster]

The easiest would be a dovetailed front sight the same height as the original. While you're at it, you could have the new one be a fiber optic or night sight.

Maybe so.

Looks like it would cost between $100-$150 for a gunsmith to cut a dovetail, roughly 1/3 what I paid for it. And then the cost of the dovetail sight & install.

Looking at the yootoobs, HAND cutting a dovetail looks to be within my level of talent. Besides, this is a project gun. And I'll have TWO stabs at making a good dovetail. First, at the usual location for a 4" bbl K-frame. Second, if #1 goes poorly, I cut the barrel to 3" and have another go at it. And 3" K-frames are supposed to be magical.

Anyways, before tearing into the SW64, I will buy some small diameter iron pipe and practice.

I already have some tri-angular files, a big ol' vice, rubber jaws, caliper, micrometer, and some muscle.

So, cutting a dovetail looks do-able, medium-term. Short term, I file the front sight even on top.

Unless any other ideas?

 

[racer19j]

There’s a lot of used 4” m64 barrels for sale at reasonable prices. Get one with a good front sight then have the barrel fit to your gun. Should be able to tighten up the cylinder to barrel gap if needed.

 

[dfariswheel]

Brownell's sell a special safe-edge dovetail file. These work better then a standard triangular file, with 60 or 65 degree.........

Keyword Search | Brownells

 

[roo_ster]

There’s a lot of used 4” m64 barrels for sale at reasonable prices. Get one with a good front sight then have the barrel fit to your gun. Should be able to tighten up the cylinder to barrel gap if needed.

I can get them locally for $40, pretty cheap.

Brownell's sell a special safe-edge dovetail file. These work better then a standard triangular file, with 60 or 65 degree.........

Keyword Search | Brownells

Nifty bit of kit.

============

Unless someone else comes up with a nifty approach, I think my path forward is:
1. Short Term--Flatten the top of the front sight with a file.
2. Long Term--Cut front and rear sight dovetails. Maybe make it a 3" bbl so I have 2", 3" and 4" bbl M64 revolvers.

 

[racer19j]

Another option is to mill a slot to mount the new style rear sight on the frame. Then mount a red dot so you don't need to bother with the front sight. You could also mount the rear sight if you want to go with open sights. Then you would have to deal with the front sight.

 

[roo_ster]

Another option is to mill a slot to mount the new style rear sight on the frame. Then mount a red dot so you don't need to bother with the front sight. You could also mount the rear sight if you want to go with open sights. Then you would have to deal with the front sight.

That IS an option. Probably not MY option given that I have not taken the RDO plunge with any gun.

Also, I think I will stick with doing what I can do my own self. I don't own a milling machine or even a drill press. It is a project gun, after all.

OTOH, I just filed the angle flat on the front sight. Looks good, you'd have to give it the old hairy eyeball to notice after I dressed it a bit with some stones. It IS a bit shorter than factory. I will see how this plays out, maybe zeroes with 158gr pills at 50 yards instead of 25. If I don't like it, I will hand-cut a dovetail and install a dovetail sight

 

[oldbrownhat]

The easiest would be a dovetailed front sight the same height as the original. While you're at it, you could have the new one be a fiber optic or night sight.

I've thought of doing this (maybe a HiViz like on my Ruger revolvers) on my semi-bubba Model 10, although I'd have to cut the dovetail by hand. I have the Brownells 60º file and have done this on a couple of rifles, but there seem to be a number of different angles for handgun sights (?)

 

[CALREB]

Depending on the age of the 64. The front sight might be pinned. Then the hard part is getting the pin aligned correct after you replace the sight. The barrel on this 67 is from a 64. Has a front sight from a model 17 .

 

[roo_ster]

I've thought of doing this (maybe a HiViz like on my Ruger revolvers) on my semi-bubba Model 10, although I'd have to cut the dovetail by hand. I have the Brownells 60º file and have done this on a couple of rifles, but there seem to be a number of different angles for handgun sights (?)

Not a gunsmith, but most the dovetail sights I have seen are 60deg. The major difference being the SIZE of the dovetail cut. Maybe a real smith could chine in.

 

[clang444]

Can you just peen the current site to stretch the metal a bit then file the top and sides flat and square?

 

[roo_ster]

Can you just peen the current site to stretch the metal a bit then file the top and sides flat and square?

I filed it flat. That will work, short-term. Long-term, I think I will hand cut a dovetail.

I wasn't too keen on whacking the top of the sight with a hammer hard enough to displace metal though that would likely have preserved a smidge of height.

 

[Bald1]

I can’t see pics, but you asked best course of action. If you can get a barrel for 40 bucks that’s the best course of action.

 

[walter o]

I think about having a jeweler weld a GOLD piece on the top of the cut down sight
I had a gold bead welded to a outdorsman that had a broken front sight

 

[BMCM]

Some ideas for you to consider...

Just this...

And this...

Yields this...

And this...

Cheers
Bill

 

[racer19j]

Great job on cutting a dove tail for the sight and making a 4 incher into a 3 incher. Much more accurate than using files.

 

[roo_ster]

I think about having a jeweler weld a GOLD piece on the top of the cut down sight
I had a gold bead welded to a outdorsman that had a broken front sight

Now THAT is a nifty idea. Measure good sight, measure filed sight, and then ask him to lay down a bead (or rectangular cylinder) that thick along the top surface.

That would be sweet.

Some ideas for you to consider...

Just this...

And this...

Yields this...

And this...

Cheers
Bill

Exquisite execution. That barrel looks about 3.5".