Model 16-3 with a weird front sight

[Florey55]

Hi All,

Has anyone seen a Model 16-3 with a front sight like this before?

I thought all Model 16s had a partridge front sight ..

It looks wrong, maybe a red ramp front sight modified, but then again, I dont think Model 16s had red ramp front sights either.

 

[murphydog]

It sure looks to be a factory Baughman ramp front sight, but a letter of authenticity from the SWHF would tell for certain if it was made with one.

Before anyone else jumps in...I would bet Mr. Patridge (the inventor of the square post front sight on S & Ws) got all sorts of grief growing up. Especially when anyone sang "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

 

[paplinker]

I know of a couple 16-2s with ramped front sights.

If I am looking at the picture right is it a red ramp with the insert missing and one edge filed down? I cannot blow it up to see.

 

[Hondo44]

Definitely not a factory profile front sight. L
Highly likely a factory Baughman quick draw ramp or factory Patridge sight that's been modified>

 

[JohnRippert]

My first thought was someone turned the ramped sight into a kinda, sorta patridge sight.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Never saw one exactly like it.
I have gotten a lot of flack when I sang -
The Eleven Days of Christmas.

 

[JP@AK]

This is old, but . . .

 

[Hondo44]

Never saw one exactly like it.
I have gotten a lot of flack when I sang -
The Eleven Days of Christmas.

If you sang it like this, there's no call for flack:

"and a Patridge on a Smith & Wesson".

 

[Green Frog]

When I was sold the NOS K-32 barrel (an orphan with no provenance) that was used to build my faux Model 16-3, I was surprised to see that it had a Baughman Rib rather than the expected Patridge front sight. When I asked about it on this forum, I have heard from several folks who have similar front sights on their K-32s of various dash modifications. Apparently not unique nor unheard of, but certainly an uncommon feature on an already uncommon model. OTOH, yours is the first of these I've heard of that also bears the red ramp. If it were mine, I would definitely put out the shekels for a factory letter.

Froggie

 

[CLASSIC12]

I have seen a German Korth with a similar front sight

 

[Art Doc]

Looks like the standard Patridge that has been filed down for some reason.