Front Sight Mod Advice on an M18 and a 640-1

[Onomea]

I am thinking to modify front sights on a couple of my revos as my eyes are not what they used to be.

I'd like to ask my gunsmith to add a gold bead to the front sight of my M18. Currently I am painting it yellow — I don't see red well because I am red, green, brown colorblind — but I think a gold bead would look a lot more classy.

My question is, can a gold bead be added to a ramp sight or would the ramp sight need to be cut like a patridge? I'd rather not need to cut, I think, because then I'd need some sort of fix for the bluing for the exposed metal. Also, I like to shoot this gun from the holster, so the ramp shape is preferred. It's a fun gun to shoot, and as a rimfire it's inexpensive.



I consider the M18 a classic so I don't want to put something like a fiber optic on it. A yellow plastic insert would also work well for me, but I also think the gold bead would look a lot better...

Next up is my 640-1:



I use this one as a carry piece. I'd like to see the front sight better, and am open to fiber optics or whatever else seems a good idea. I'd like suggestions. And again, I intend to ask my gunsmith to mount whatever I decide on.

Advice, comments and suggestions welcome.

 

[326MOD10]

I had a red fiber optic put on mine that works well. Since you don't see red well you might check the green fiber optic.

Another good option is a Big Dot sight, smaller version, as seen here on a 360J.

 

[chief38]

Could it be added? Maybe technically, however it would be largely ineffective IMO and kind of look a little funny. You can of course try and simulate this with Testor's Gold colored paint. Paint a dot to replicate what you want and test fire the revolvers.

I have a few gold colored inserts on Rifles and they are very hard for me to see - especially once they get covered with a little carbon and gunpowder residue. IMHO you would be better off with paint as it is much shinier and brighter. The good news is you can experiment with different Testor colors until you het to the right one for you. They make all different ones throughout their extensive line of colors and I'd bet some of hem would help you out. There is a color chart online or better yet, if you can get to a Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or other similar Craft store they=n you can look at them in person. They normally sell for about $2.50 - $3.00 a bottle so you can try a bunch without wasting a lot of money.

By doing the above experiments you can sort of find out where you would stand with no alterations to the revolvers. For what it is worth, I stopped dovetailing the front sights to accept the plastic inserts many many years ago and now just use testor's paint - IMHO it also works much better.

I also agree that the fiber optic sight might work well, but look a bit funky.

Oh - and let me just add this...... Painted sights, gold beads, etc. look very different when used in different lighting conditions. While some colors work well indoors, they totally wash out for me outside in the suns light, so before drilling, cutting or modifying, try and test the color out in several lighting conditions. Just another reason to use the paint - it can easily be altered with no damage or hassle.

 

[gfors]

To put a bead on either one would require a Patridge style blade, I would think. Easy enough to do on the 640, as the blade is pinned, and easily swapped-out. The 18 woud require milling, but it could be done, by a competent smith.
I agree with Chief. Try some paint first. I, too, have issues with red and green colors. I start out by painting the blade white. Then, a layer of yellow or orange. The base layer of white really makes the color "pop". To get a precise point, in my sight picture, I draw a straight line, up the middle of the ramp, with an ultra fine point sharpie. When sighting the gun, this line appears as a fine dot, on a yellow background, in the middle of the rear sight valley. I think it works really well. When you get tired of the color, a little acetone removes everything, and doesn't hurt the bluing.
Testor's enamel works great, but so does the wife's nail polish. I also have some craft paint that seems to work well enough, for my purposes.

 

[Baxter6551]

I use white nail polish as a base and the Testors over the top. Apply just a dab with a toothpick (not the bottle brush) and it will flow on. A set of hobby headset magnifiers really helps.
I don’t paint the whole blade as noted just the sighting area. I wouldn’t mill the model 18 sight. Testors makes fluorescent red/orange, yellow and green. I get it at Hobby Lobby as noted above by Chief.

 

[mikerjf]

I concur with paint rather than an insert.

The Big Dot folks also have a slightly smaller Regular Dot that I think is more appropriately sized to the J frame, so check out that too.

The J being pinned gives you a lot of reasonable options.

 

[Onomea]

Thanks for the advice, fellas. I am currently using Testors yellow on the M18, but had not thought to try a white base paint, or to mark it further with a fine point black sharpie. I do like the way it comes off easily with acetone. I've also used black Teslors on a stainless rear sight on my 67 no dash. Can't say I like the look much, but it does work well for shooting and has the advantage of not messing with the gun's originality.

I guess I'll leave the M18 alone and focus on the 640-1.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I think I would start with what Baxter6551 has posted.

That said, I have a Wiley Clapp 1911 with a brass bead that is amazing.

Seems like D&L, TK and others do this work, but always replacing the front sight and possibly cutting a dovetail.

 

[Onomea]

I think I may ask my gunsmith about this approach for a front sight insert for my M18. Looks fairly straightforward.

Installing Red Front Sight on a Smith and Wesson Model 15 Revolver | Smith & Wesson Revolver Project - YouTube

 

[Dvus]

My favorite is nail polish, specifically one called "Traffic Cone." With a base coat, followed by a beaded drop, I get a highly fluorescent orange dot that shows up in any condition other than pitch black. I have tried almost every color and every type of paint, and this works far and above all else for me. Every gun I own with iron sights gets this treatment. Even (and especially) my old SAA Colts.

 

[Onomea]

I wound up buying a Big Dot for the 640-1, and having my gunsmith install it, along with making a yellow insert for the M18, and giving it an action job:





I'm well pleased with the results.

 

[Baxter6551]

Onomea - great job on both. They look great. What are those beautiful grips on the 640 ?

 

[Onomea]

Thanks, Baxter. The grips on the 640-1 are Herrett's Jordan Troopers, carved for my hand by Dee, Herrett's longterm custom grip carver who unfortunately passed last year.

(I had them made in 2008 or so, I think. When I asked her to make another pair for my Colt DS, two or three years ago, they turned out to be much larger. Nice grips, very stable, but much larger. Curious, I asked why the size difference, but never got an answer. Kind of a mystery.)

 

[WR Moore]

In my elder years, I find stainless steel front sights much easier to see than the traditional black. Since many gun makers are stuck in a tradition rut, plating the sight might be the way to go. Or, maybe inserting a stainless blade in the base.

The Testor's metallic gold worked fine on one handgun with a patridge style front sight.