Early front sights (1910's) question

[delcrossv]

So the M frame target is here, and I notice the front sight blade has a small circular hollow/hole at the top. Was there possibly a little bead in there? What did those look like? Were they on some kind of post?

Picture:

It's very tiny- I had to shoot this through a magnifying glass.

 

[Modified]

What?!? Someone stole your gold bead! Bandits!

(seriously I don't really know the answer, but it sure looks like a gold bead should be in there to me, and that gun is just way way way too cool)

 

[mrcvs]

And…

Where are the obligatory photographs of the entire revolver?

 

[rct269]

Well, clearly a bead of some sort used to live there. I suspect, but do not know, replacement beads are available somewhere (Brownells??----some sort of jewelry making supply house??)-----and I also suspect beads of an appropriate size for a Lady Smith target are going to come under the heading of other unobtainium products---and there are some who will say it serves you right!!

Good Luck anyhow!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Take it to a jeweler and have a ruby gemstone put in...jes sayin'

 

[iskra]

Dig out the discarded gold crown from the small 'trophy packet' commemorating 'your' new replacement and 'your dentist's' new sixteen hundred dollar billing! Alternatively, "ivory", sourced from the plastic tooth brush he also gave; the one too small and cheap for any realistic use.
My Triple Lock Target, SN 10xx, with impromptu, perhaps red toothbruch, rendered bead. Tic Tacs, too large!
Humor, with tinge of serious?
Best!
John

 

[delcrossv]

Well, clearly a bead of some sort used to live there. I suspect, but do not know, replacement beads are available somewhere (Brownells??----some sort of jewelry making supply house??)-----and I also suspect beads of an appropriate size for a Lady Smith target are going to come under the heading of other unobtainium products---and there are some who will say it serves you right!!

Good Luck anyhow!!

Ralph Tremaine

Well, if I knew what one was supposed to look like, I could have one made. I know a guy who knows a guy....

Here's a bad , late nite pic for Ian:

 

[delcrossv]

Dig out the discarded gold crown from the small 'trophy packet' commemorating 'your' new replacement and 'your dentist's' new sixteen hundred dollar billing! Alternatively, "ivory", sourced from the plastic tooth brush he also gave; the one too small and cheap for any realistic use.
My Triple Lock Target, SN 10xx, with impromptu, perhaps red toothbruch, rendered bead. Tic Tacs, too large!
Humor, with tinge of serious?
Best!
John

So there's a post on the end?

 

[delcrossv]

The more I look at it in relation to the width of the rear sight notch, it looks like just a piece of gold wire would work.

It doesn't have the wider top like a Sheard or Paine and looks more like the standard shark fin sight, but with a hole in the top.

 

[rct269]

"Were they on some kind of post?"

It took me awhile, but it finally dawned on me what you meant----a post, to stick in a hole as an anchor------yes?

That's another thing I don't know, but I reckon not---simply because a little ball on a little post costs more than a little ball and a dab of an adhesive.

Finally , Guy's suggestion to take it to a jeweler strikes me as sheer genius. First off, a jeweler-----a real jeweler who makes and/or repairs such could fix this with one hand and his eyes shut-------and better yet knows where to come up with the needed material.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[StrawHat]

Andy Horvath just did this one for me. I do not know if it is a ball on the end or the same diameter the full length.

Not sure if I would take a gun into a jewelry store in Massachusetts!

Kevin

 

[Modified]

Dig out the discarded gold crown from the small 'trophy packet' commemorating 'your' new replacement and 'your dentist's' new sixteen hundred dollar billing! Alternatively, "ivory", sourced from the plastic tooth brush he also gave; the one too small and cheap for any realistic use.
My Triple Lock Target, SN 10xx, with impromptu, perhaps red toothbruch, rendered bead. Tic Tacs, too large!
Humor, with tinge of serious?
Best!
John

That looks like a King sight, guessing the little bit of text I see on the side says so?

 

[handejector]

Yes, it had a shaft. Is there a dimple on top of the blade? If so, it probably had a metal bead- brass, gold, etc. It could have been ivory or plastic. If so, it was possibly glued in place and not staked. I assume the blade is not marked?
I have a 38 that letters in 1907 with a Lyman Ivory bead. You could order what you wanted.

 

[weatherby]

Take it to a jeweler and have a ruby gemstone put in...jes sayin'

Should be emerald shows better in low light.

 

[glowe]

Ask Don Mundell (Club Gun Fan), as I remember that he has a couple of long-barrel 22 Ladysmith Targets. Some factory sights have beads that were finished flush with the blade and others that show up as a rounded knob sticking out the rear.

 

[delcrossv]

Yes, it had a shaft. Is there a dimple on top of the blade? If so, it probably had a metal bead- brass, gold, etc. It could have been ivory or plastic. If so, it was possibly glued in place and not staked. I assume the blade is not marked?
I have a 38 that letters in 1907 with a Lyman Ivory bead. You could order what you wanted.

No dimple I can see. Feels smooth on top. Which is probably why it got lost in the first place.

No visible markings on the blade.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Not at all the same problem, but the solution could be.

When my name reached the top of Craig Spegel's list for a pair of grips for my Baby Chiefs project, Craig told me to take the $5 gold piece I wanted him to inset in the right grip to a jeweler and have him attach a post to the back of the gold piece. Craig wanted something to glue into the grip. Craig gave me the dimensions, and the jeweler made it exactly to Craig's specs.

A jeweler would have no problem crafting whatever you want to fill that space.

 

[SS336]

I really like that little revolver. I don't know much about it, but would like to know more.
The idea of a piece of gold wire. That would be pretty easy, I would think. Although it might not show up because your revolver is pretty shiny.
Maybe a hobby shop would have some red plastic tubing that could be adapted.

 

[rct269]

The sight blade itself is known as the "Thin Round Top Blade"---standard for all hand ejector targets from 1905 to 1923. This one has a hole in it---and used to have some sort of bead in the hole.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[merl67]

A tiny gold post earring such as the ones intended for babies...never could understand getting a babies ears pierced, but this would be a good use for one.