FDL Wonder sight for S&W and Colt

[jrm53]

I was looking through my 1963 Gun Digest and saw the Wonder sight, some one had a post about them but this was first time I had noticed it in the book It was made by Firearms Development Lab in Los Angeles Ca and sold for 4.95 they were for revolvers only and mounted in the bug screw hole and were adjustable for windage and elevation. Jeff

 

[-db-]

There's an outfit still making them today: Wondersight « Hollow Point Bullet Mold Service

 

[GB]

I have one mounted on my 1926 Frankengun (1917 frame with later S marked cylinder and barrel in 44 spcl.) Bought the sight new from my local dealer in about 1970ish. Works just like it is supposed to.

 

[straightshooter1]

I've had a couple mounted on older S&Ws over the years.

Have a new one somewhere around here, but haven't been able it find it in about 10 years. so it may be "lost." I'm just not ready to admit it yet.

As GB said, they work just fine.

Bob

 

[Golddollar]

I have them on 2 Brazilian contract 1917 Smith & Wesson revolvers, one I installed myself and the other came on a customized gun that I later acquired. They are actually quite refined for an add-on device, especially since they have a knob controlled adjustable windage control. This constitute a definite improvement for sights and do not affect the collectability of the older pieces that have the sideplate screw just below the fixed sight.

 

[Rock185]

I remember those. It would seem that the Wondersight elevation adjustment would only be of value if your gun was shooting low with the original fixed sight. If you had a gun shooting high originally, you couldn't lower POI without installing a new,higher front sight. That would defeat the purpose of buying a cheap sight to gain adjustability wouldn't it? The Wondersight back in the day seemed to me to be the firearms equivalent of some of the automotive add-ons of dubious utility sold in the old J. C. Whitney catalogs.

 

[Kinman]

There's an outfit still making them today: Wondersight « Hollow Point Bullet Mold Service

I bought one from this site and installed it on my Brazilian Model of 1917. I need more than elevation correction and the windage adjustment works wonders for me.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I remember those. It would seem that the Wondersight elevation adjustment would only be of value if your gun was shooting low with the original fixed sight. If you had a gun shooting high originally, you couldn't lower POI without installing a new,higher front sight. That would defeat the purpose of buying a cheap sight to gain adjustability wouldn't it? The Wondersight back in the day seemed to me to be the firearms equivalent of some of the automotive add-ons of dubious utility sold in the old J. C. Whitney catalogs.

I have them on several Smiths and have never had an issue with them being too high . At their lowest setting they are pretty much inline with the original rear sight groove and are designed to function correctly with the original front sight . Only issue I have ever had with them is having to keep up with the original screw . Best $42 I ever spent on a gun as far as I'm concerned . I plan on adding them to several more of my revolvers . The guy that makes them is very nice to deal with also .

Eddie

 

[rufgr]

I just purchased one of these for my triple lock ($49.00 on ebay) as it was shooting about 10" low at 25 yards with the 200 grain lightly loaded ammunition I was using. Works great, much more satisfying to hit the center of the target.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I just purchased one of these for my triple lock ($49.00 on ebay) as it was shooting about 10" low at 25 yards with the 200 grain lightly loaded ammunition I was using. Works great, much more satisfying to hit the center of the target.

The guy selling them on ebay is the manufacturer . You can buy them direct from him cheaper because he does not have to pay ebay fees that way .

Eddie

 

[Kinman]

Although slightly off topic but in reference to the seller of the Wondersights. I have seen a bullet from one of his modified Lyman bullet molds and the guy does amazing work. A friend of mine shoots a bullet made from this mold and I was amazed at the profile. The original mold is one of Lyman's 240 gr, wide meplat semi-wadcutters...like 429667, the guy modifies it into a hollow-point that looks like it was sculpted and wicked as hell. It could have a lot to do with the guy doing the pouring as I expect this guy is very adept at the craft. He referred me to the mold maker and that in a round about way was how I found out about the Wondersight. I am also considering putting one on my Triple-Lock as it does not shoot anywhere near point of aim for my eyes or loads I want to shoot.

 

[Freischütz]

Too bad the FDL Wondersight wasn't updated for the new S&W frame with the frame mounted firing pin.

 

[StrawHat]

Too bad the FDL Wondersight wasn't updated for the new S&W frame with the frame mounted firing pin.

Just saw this thread.

How does the position of the firing pin effect the function of the sight?

Kevin

 

[gwpercle]

I was looking through my 1963 Gun Digest and saw the Wonder sight, some one had a post about them but this was first time I had noticed it in the book It was made by Firearms Development Lab in Los Angeles Ca and sold for 4.95 they were for revolvers only and mounted in the bug screw hole and were adjustable for windage and elevation. Jeff

1963 they sold for $4.95

2019 they sell for $42.00

Wow...8.5 inflation rate ! But at least they are still being made ,
search the term Wondersight it will bring up the site .
Gary

 

[StrawHat]

Here is the website.

Wondersight « Hollow Point Bullet Mold Service

Kevin