Don't miss this album: merlindrb's photos of revolver sights of the 1930s

[DCWilson]

I just stumbled across merlindrb's album of front and rear revolver sights of the 1930s. This is a wonderful compendium of various revolver sight options available at the time, and it certainly addressed a lot of questions I have been carrying about for months.

S&W Forum - merlindrb's Album: Front & Rear Sights

A tip of the hat and a big thank you to Dave for putting this package of images together.

I was selfishly interested in his pic No. 4, which shows a McGivern style gold bead sight with an elongated and protruding bead. That is pretty much the front sight I have on the .38/44 Outdoorsman that I posted several days ago. At the time that sight generated some conversation about its unusual appearance. Now I know that there were at least two of them.

 

[Mitch_D]

McGivern Front Sights

merlindrb:
What a great album and gun sight compendium. My hat is also off to you. And DC, thanks for pointing it out on the forum, or I would have missed it.

I've seen two other front sights of Ed McGivern's that are of interest to me. I've never seen them anywhere else - were they custom made for Ed? Can anyone provide any info on these? Instead of a gold bead, they are more of a long profile gold or brass rod. They seem like great front sights for low light, or any light - especially for speed shooting. See the attached...

The first is from his record setting speed shoot.
The second (#6) is his personal 2" M&P carry gun, presently displayed in the NRA National Firearms Museum.

Does anyone out there have a another vintage version of this front sight?

Ed McGivern was a true "Shootist".

 

[DCWilson]

Mitch,

Those look like Sheard bead sights -- or maybe Marble. I'm not astute enough yet to know the difference at a glance. The Sheard sight was one of the factory options available on prewar target models.

 

[153]

Excellent post, I have long looked for the King Peep for a Colt Woodsman, but never found one, so it was nice to see a close up mounted on a registered magnum!!!!

 

[merlindrb]

Thanks for the info on those sheets Steve. Someone sent them to me years ago and I couldn't remember where they were from.

Mitch, I agree with David, it looks like a Sheard. I have a Reg Mag that letters with a Sheard Gold Bead. There's a picture of it in my Reg Mag Album, see the link below. It's the 11th picture on the 2nd page, titled REG2808. I'll try to dig the gun out and take a close-up of the sight. If so, I'll post it for you.

S&W Forum - merlindrb's Album: Dave Ballantyne's Pre-War Mags

9303 - have you ever seen any of King's pre-war catalogs? I think he shows a Woodsman with a peep sight on it.

Regards.

Dave

 

[digi-shots]

Dave,

The album with the sights is GREAT!

Thanks for posting them!

 

[nosaintsfanatic]

sights

David, thanks so much for making this post & merlindrb, thanks for the pics & great information. I am still fairly new to collecting S&W's, & there are alot of times where someone mentions a particular type of sight, & I find myself trying to picture that sight. I can now use this to better inform myself on the different sights. I appreciate it.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

Chris
S&WCA#2122

 

[feralmerril]

I have this refinished new model remington that must have been re-done back in the 1930s or 1940s. It has a king post with a red insert front sight. The hog wallow rear has been squared off.

 

[merlindrb]

Here's the pics of my Sheard Gold Bead. I think it's very similar, although some of my paint's worn off!

 

[Mitch_D]

Dave:
You are the man. Thank you for the close-ups.
I love the checkering on the beveled base.
Now to find one like that for my collection...