Model 41 sights

[Engineer1911]

The old eyes vs. black sights solution. It works great and is worth every penny of the price.

VIA for AR-15/A2

 

[Hussky]

Thank you very much, very good explanations

 

[k22fan]

Does anyone make a white outline or 3-dot sight system for the 41? I do most of my pistol shooting indoors these days, and the all black sights just aren't friendly to old eyes. I really don't want to mount a red-dot or scope on the thing, unless I absolutely have to, as it will spoil the balance (I think).

First we need to be talking about the same kind of sights. 41s have been sold with 4 kinds of rear sights: 1) traditional 5.5" barrel or wide, 2) traditional 7" & Field barrel or narrow, 3) Millet and 4) Bomar look-a-like.

I believe Millet has quit making adjustable sights but they used to make replacement rear blades with 2 white dots. I have never seen rear blades with white dots for the other types of 41 sights.

If you want truely round and precisely located white dots bad enough a gunsmith can cut shallow holes in your sights with an end mill. The sights have to be dissassembled, mounted in a milling machine etc. so it's expensive but a new set of 41 sights would also be expensive. You may have to shop for a local general gunsmith that likes the challenge of solving the variety of problems customers bring in.

Please post what solution you arrive at and how it works out.

Best Regards,
Gil

 

[civil1977]

I'm not trying to be critical with this question, I'm just interested in the details of 41 Field Barrels. I've handled one with plain black sights and one that had a red ramp front. I don't recall if the one with a red ramp had any color other than black on the rear. Are you sure you remember one that came from S&W with 3 dots? There are more gunsmith shortened 7" barrels around than original Field Barrels. It appears S&W created at least some of their original field barrels by shortening 7" barrels so it get confusing.

Gil

I've been looking for the post that discussed the factory 3-dot sights on Field Barrels but haven't found it yet. Obviously it was a rare feature on a rare barrel so its seldom seen.

 

[civil1977]

Here's the link to the old post:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/129378-field-barrel-variations.html

Apparently it was not three white dots, but a red ramp front with two white dots on the rear.

 

[k22fan]

I've been looking for the post that discussed the factory 3-dot sights on Field Barrels but haven't found it yet. Obviously it was a rare feature on a rare barrel so its seldom seen.

Thanks for looking.

The two Field Barrels that I've handled belong to shooters at my club. The muzzel ends of their slides are quite different. One owner insists that proves the other's is a "fake". The trouble is, the owner of the "fake" bought it new and has shown me the original 2 piece S&W box with correct end label. My guess is that they are both Original but from different time periods or subcontractors.

I got interested after I bought a 41 with 2 barrels, its original 5.5" and a 5.5" "fake" Field barrel. I showed it to my neighborhood gunsmith because he's interested in all things 41 and at a glance he said it was his work. He has made a half dozen or so of them all at 5.5" for 2 reasons: 1) the scallops on the lower front of the side remain whole and look beter and 2) so no one could sell them as original. Actually, his work on My "fake" looks better than factory.

Best Regards,
Gi

Post Script: Thanks for the link. I'll take a look.

 

[br25004x4]

First we need to be talking about the same kind of sights. 41s have been sold with 4 kinds of rear sights: 1) traditional 5.5" barrel or wide, 2) traditional 7" & Field barrel or narrow, 3) Millet and 4) Bomar look-a-like.

Best Regards,
Gil

You left out the 5th they sold some barrels between the Millet and Bomar styles with Smith Revolver sights on them. Might have been just prior to the Millets I don't remember the years. But I have seen the 5 1/2 inch Barrels with the revolver sights.

 

[k22fan]

You left out the 5th [...] Revolver sights [...]

Thats one I never heard of. Maybe they were trying to save even more $ than they did mounting Millets. The first 41s after production was moved to Maine were the worst. That was the first use of Millets.

The more I post the more I learn, usually by being corrected.

Thanks for the info.
Gil

 

[benzer]

Have you tried sighting your gun in at 6 oclock? If you are shooting bullseye targets, sight your pistol in at just below the black round bull. That way your black sights will be sharp against the gray target paper.

 

[Troystat]

The explanation I liked best for describing a 6oclock hold was the black of the bullseye is like a setting sun on the just touching the top of the front site blade. Anyway good luck

Troy

 

[alfonzo]

I have one of those two white dot rear and I believe red ramp front on my model 41 with a 5 inch lightweight field barrel.

At the time I purchased about 7-8 years ago the model 41 came with a 5 1/2 in bbl and the field barrel as an extra thrown into the package.

When I looked at the barrel with the white dots it looked like a professional job perhaps by a gunsmith. I did not know at the time it was factory.

al

 

[rck281]

I have a Burris FastFire mounted on mine. It is very light weight and doesn't change the balance. It's great for my old eyes. It's mounted on a Weigard mount.