Increasingly more Interesting Triple Lock *update*

Sixgun,

I don't think you can do better than that sight on Ebay. It's from an N frame and just needs another threaded hole and a screw. Post war pre 27s and Model 27s have the micro click sight of course and also the finely checkered rear sight tang to match the top strap checkering. But the registered mag photos I have do not show that on the RMs.
 
Hondo44 said:
Sixgun,

I don't think you can do better than that sight on Ebay. It's from an N frame and just needs another threaded hole and a screw. Post war pre 27s and Model 27s have the micro click sight of course and also the finely checkered rear sight tang to match the top strap checkering. But the registered mag photos I have do not show that on the RMs.
Click to expand...

Yep, they are also wider. The first one I tried was one of those checkered rear sights, which sadly don't fit. I modified one by removing steel from both sides to put it on, but it's still not right.

I guess I'll have to get in a bidding war over that sight then. I figured modifying this K frame target sight would be a lot more work since it requires the extra hole and length.

Thanks for the information.
 
Which 'extra hole' are you refering to..
..the large hole in the sight tang cut in the frame right by where the top strap checkering is a bit worn off?

Or.. the extra screw that the K frame adj sight has just in front of the elevation adjustment screw?

The larger hole in the top strap (down in the sight tang cut) is aftermarket and probably from a 'scope mounted on the revolver at one time. That would also make sense for the 'went missing' rear sight.

The sight on Ebay is the early style adjustable that only has the elevation screw in front of the blade.
S&W later added the small 'lock' set screw that your K frame pre-war sight has. Sits right in front of the elevation screw.

There is not enough room on the 'flat' in front of the elevation screw on the early sight on Ebay to install a lock screw,,and have it look right. It'd be down onto the rounded tang portion. If used, I'd leave it alone. Only a purist would know the difference.

I'd guess to be correct the Mag should have the later style with the lock screw and I think you can see the tiny dot impression it made when it was there just in front of the T slot cut out.

The Ebay sight is missing the elevation screw and nut plus the tiny attachment screw for the tang (unless they are still inside the envelope).
They are not common parts. You can probably switch the K frame elevation parts over but I can't guarantee anything.
Nor am I sure that the early style (Ebay sight) and the later style (that goes on the Magnum) had the same tang hole spacing for the attachment screw dispite being both N frame sights.
Just some thoughts.

,,it's never easy is it..


I'd cut and weld the tang on the K-sight. You're already more than half way there.
It's the later style w/the lock screw. It's only missing some length in the tang. Cut it back to remove the K frame attachment hole and extend from there.
You still have to come up w/a tang attachment screw but there's no cash outlay for something you are uncertain it will fit.

Very nice find. I see bricks of .22's for that now..
Well worth the time to restore it.
 
Last edited:
2152hq said:
I'd cut and weld the tang on the K-sight. You're already more than half way there.
It's the later style w/the lock screw. It's only missing some length in the tang. Cut it back to remove the K frame attachment hole and extend from there.
You still have to come up w/a tang attachment screw but there's no cash outlay for something you are uncertain it will fit.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this helps tremendously. I was already assuming that the K-Frame Rear sight was a lucky find (snagged it for $12 off of ebay randomly, before I really knew what I was looking for).

Any go-to smith around here for such work? At this point the last thing that I want to do to the gun is to get that sight working correctly. As I mentioned I plan on keeping this gun as a shooter, and maybe some day if I decide I really need to, get the full restoration.

Honestly, I'm not a handy man when it comes to such things, especially when I am concerned about destroying the only sight I have been able to come up with in a couple years of looking.
 
How does that fixed rear sight blade actually letter ? Could you reproduce that
portion of the letter ?

As to that rear sight assembly for the reg mag, a good machinist could weld a
piece on to it, to lengthen it. Perhaps even cut it open first, weld a piece in, and
then dress it out, and blue it. I think it would come out very nice.

Mike Priwer
 
mikepriwer said:
How does that fixed rear sight blade actually letter ? Could you reproduce that
portion of the letter ?

As to that rear sight assembly for the reg mag, a good machinist could weld a
piece on to it, to lengthen it. Perhaps even cut it open first, weld a piece in, and
then dress it out, and blue it. I think it would come out very nice.

Mike Priwer
Click to expand...

The letter is a couple posts up. It says Square Notch Rear sight, which I believe is the same as what I have with this K frame sight.

I'll just have to find a good machinist to do the work. Our here in the Seattle area I have yet to find someone I would trust to do the work.

Heck, I brought it into one guy and he immediately informed me that he wouldn't touch it because he had a reputation to protect. When I asked him what he meant by that he informed me that someone had really screwed up the hammer on the gun and he didn't want his name associated with it.

When I tried to explain to him that this was correct for Registered Magnum hammers he would hear nothing of it. The really funny part was that some guy who was also in there was picking up his Triple Lock. I really hope that smith didn't do something terrible to it.
 
2152hq said:
Or.. the extra screw that the K frame adj sight has just in front of the elevation adjustment screw?

The sight on Ebay is the early style adjustable that only has the elevation screw in front of the blade.
S&W later added the small 'lock' set screw that your K frame pre-war sight has. Sits right in front of the elevation screw.

There is not enough room on the 'flat' in front of the elevation screw on the early sight on Ebay to install a lock screw,,and have it look right. It'd be down onto the rounded tang portion. If used, I'd leave it alone. Only a purist would know the difference.

The Ebay sight is missing the elevation screw and nut plus the tiny attachment screw for the tang (unless they are still inside the envelope).
They are not common parts. You can probably switch the K frame elevation parts over but I can't guarantee anything.
Nor am I sure that the early style (Ebay sight) and the later style (that goes on the Magnum) had the same tang hole spacing for the attachment screw dispite being both N frame sights.
Just some thoughts.

I'd cut and weld the tang on the K-sight. You're already more than half way there.
It's the later style w/the lock screw. It's only missing some length in the tang. Cut it back to remove the K frame attachment hole and extend from there.
Click to expand...

Excellent points! Yes I meant the elevation lock screw. But I certainly overlooked the fact that the flat for the lock screw is not long enough! Thanks for pointing that out.
 
Sixgun,

I think some others have given good advice about modifying the K frame sight. Don't worry about screws, there are several old parts suppliers, and two that I know of that reproduce the screws you will need.
 
Last edited:
There seems to be two different guns/letters, that have me confused a bit.

First - as to Sixguns triplelock - I assume you do not have a letter for this gun?
If you do have one, could you reproduce the relevant part of it here ? The letter that
is posted above is for the reg mag, with the missing rear sight assembly - right ?

Second - as to Masterpieces triplelock with drift-adjustable rear sight - you have a
letter on this gun, apparently. It shows it being shipped to England. Could you
reproduce the relevant portion of that letter here ? I'm interested in what it says
about the sight(s) .

Thanks for posting the documents, Mike Priwer
 
mikepriwer said:
There seems to be two different guns/letters, that have me confused a bit.

First - as to Sixguns triplelock - I assume you do not have a letter for this gun?
If you do have one, could you reproduce the relevant part of it here ? The letter that
is posted above is for the reg mag, with the missing rear sight assembly - right ?

Second - as to Masterpieces triplelock with drift-adjustable rear sight - you have a
letter on this gun, apparently. It shows it being shipped to England. Could you
reproduce the relevant portion of that letter here ? I'm interested in what it says
about the sight(s) .

Thanks for posting the documents, Mike Priwer
Click to expand...

Yes. That did get confusing. Sorry.

No, I don't have a letter for the Triple Lock yet, I just got it. Sending off for the letter this next week.
 
The factory letter arrived:

o37OwmV.jpg


Is Roy saying that the factory did the sight conversion here? Because that's absolutely awesome if they did.
 
Sixgun,

Bravo! That's an absolutely awesome letter! And yes he's saying that the factory did the sight conversion!

Also he must have taken a special interest in your gun to look up the repair order. That info is only occasionally
included in a letter and maybe why it took a little over a full year to get it. But well worth the wait!!
 
Last edited:
WOW, possibly unique factory sights. Beautiful. That is REALLY an extraordinary gun.

and 44 special
 
As the saying goes with S&W in relation to the sights, never say never! Great acquisition and letter!
 
Mr. Strumpet, please put together a photo album or slide show with all your beautiful guns & letters. Feeding them to us piece-meal like this is kinda cruel. You have an astonishing pile of six-shooters!
 
Mike McLellan said:
Mr. Strumpet, please put together a photo album or slide show with all your beautiful guns & letters. Feeding them to us piece-meal like this is kinda cruel. You have an astonishing pile of six-shooters!
Click to expand...

Yeah, will see about doing that. Honestly in the $600 of letters I sent off for there were really only 4 that I found particularly interesting.

When I have some time I'll make a thread that's just guns with letters, maybe there's more of interest in some of them then I know.
 
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