Front sight inserts

[SAFireman]

When did the front sight inserts begin for N frame guns? What were the options from the factory? I have seen red/orange and yellow....which ones were factory? is there a way to tell aftermarket add-ons?

any info would be great.

Thanks guys.

 

[Muley Gil]

The early '50s. They were standard from the beginning on the pre M29s.

Most factory sight inserts are the red/orange color.

I have installed many using material from the handle of a toothbrush. It's not too hard to file a dovetail slot that looks like it came from the factory.

 

[Doc44]

The S&W red ramp was cataloged in 1952. Mr. Jinks has lettered a very few guns with yellow ramps, but that is a rare exception.

Bill

 

[SAFireman]

thanks

Thanks Doc & Gil....I picked up a late 50's gun that had the inserts and was curious when they first became available, and what color was appropriate to the year....will be replacing the missing insert shortly.

Thanks again for all the info.

 

[H Richard]

Brownell's used to sell a kit to repair/replace red ramps. I believe it came or could be had in many different colors. It was a two solution mix that you poured in the cutout, and it hardened in place.

 

[Frank237]

I've seen a few Smith with the yellow frt sight inserts over the years. Never saw it as a factory option though in the old catalogs. Must have been a little known secret option??

I do have a pair of 29-2's consecutively numbered guns, with yellow frt inserts though.

FN in MT

 

[Frank237]

 

[SAFireman]

Letter those 29's

Frank,

If you haven't already, it might be a good investment to letter your 29's....I hear that the factory yellow was rare, and to have consecutive numbered guns...wow! they look great!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Frank237]

Frank,

If you haven't already, it might be a good investment to letter your 29's....I hear that the factory yellow was rare, and to have consecutive numbered guns...wow! they look great!

Thanks for sharing.

It was a lucky find. I was on my bike going to Yellowstone NP. Outside of Bozman I stopped at Yellowstone Sports...nice gun/sport shop. They had a dozen or more 1980-90's Smith revolvers, all NIB. The story was that a MT Rancher had died and his Son was selling off the guns to finance a MOTORHOME!!

Anyway the first 29-2 was sitting there for $700 . NIB, combat trigger, tgt hammer and smooth tgt grips, with the yellow frt sight insert. I decided to buy it... they drop down to $675. As I'm filling out the paperwork they bring out ANOTHER similar 29-2 to fill the space just vacated by my gun.

I look at that one....and notice the last two of the serial is 45 and the other guns is 44. So I ended up buying them both for $1300.

Not wanting to carry them in my panniers all through Yelloowstone and down into WY and back I left them there and picked them up the next week. At that time the Salesmen told me that the original owner had bought both guns with the intent of engraving them, then having a custom two gun presentation case made and simply keeping them.

He died before he could do it I guess?

Doc44 also advised me to Letter them months back. I should get going on that.

FN in MT

 

[SAFireman]

One in each bag

Frank,

On your MC, you could get holsters sewn into your bags, one on each side.....what a nice pair you found. I keep hearing stories about Montana...maybe it is time for a road trip

 

[Frank237]

Frank,

On your MC, you could get holsters sewn into your bags, one on each side.....what a nice pair you found. I keep hearing stories about Montana...maybe it is time for a road trip

It IS a great place to live. VERY liberal when it comes to firearms.

Years back I was in town on the bike and stopped at my local shop. The Gunsmith had finished doing a trigger job for me on a Safari grade M-70. I simply slung it across my back and drove the 55 miles home. No one batted an eye.

Imagine THAT in NJ or So-Cal??

FN in MT

 

[SAFireman]

It IS a great place to live. VERY liberal when it comes to firearms.

Years back I was in town on the bike and stopped at my local shop. The Gunsmith had finished doing a trigger job for me on a Safari grade M-70. I simply slung it across my back and drove the 55 miles home. No one batted an eye.

Imagine THAT in NJ or So-Cal??

FN in MT

They would have a fleet of black helicopters (news copters too in Cali) to hunt you down and send you to re-education camp