Modified 1917

[StrawHat]

Considering it is not a factory length barrel, I would not expect a factory front sight. To me, the front sight needs to help me hold on target, regardless of shape.

Here is a modified front sight on a 1950 Military Model that works pretty good for my eyes. Although I am considering adding a gold bead.

Kevin

 

[Old_Cop]

It's not perfect as noted, but I would give it a home.

 

[Jack Flash]

I would just leave the front sight as is unless the point of aim is really screwed up for your desired range. Even then, being the lazy type, I would probably say "Look, it shoots point of aim at SOME range.

 

[ddixie884]

I like it, good shooter or night stand gun...............

 

[S.B.]

Yeah, no doubt about it being refinished. The front sight doesn't look anything like the original, but it seemed to be pretty well done. It is nothing more than a shooter for sure.
But a working N-frame in 45 ACP that is even cosmetically presentable for $350. I couldn't pass on that.

Well, you could always get yourself a felt fedora, whip(where legal to own), and of course a flapped holster and have an adventure while carrying this Indy gun? Congratulations, I'd have purchased this in a New York minute. Sorry, I just watched this series of movies again recently.
Steve

 

[tommy F]

Looks awesome

 

[S.B.]

Considering it is not a factory length barrel, I would not expect a factory front sight. To me, the front sight needs to help me hold on target, regardless of shape.

Here is a modified front sight on a 1950 Military Model that works pretty good for my eyes. Although I am considering adding a gold bead.

Kevin

For the life of me, I've always wondered why an articulate pistolsmith couldn't just cut the barrel reshape the bottom and then silver solder the original front sight onto it in the new position? Maybe adding some height to compensate for the shortening? Of course the real issue here is the position of the lettering(patent dates ie.).
Steve

 

[StrawHat]

For the life of me, I've always wondered why an articulate pistolsmith couldn't just cut the barrel reshape the bottom and then silver solder the original front sight onto it in the new position? Maybe adding some height to compensate for the shortening? Of course the real issue here is the position of the lettering(patent dates ie.).
Steve

It all comes down to $$$$. Cutting the barrel is simple. Taking the cut off piece and removing everything that isn't front sight is a bit more difficult. Then milling it to approximate the original configuration is a bit more difficult.

Just $$$$

Kevin

 

[Hondo44]

Steve and Kevin,

I agree with both of your statements. Milling machine work is nice, but the set-up takes the time, and as they say time is money. There were many years when I didn't have a milling mach. But my time is cheap, it's a hobby. I did many things by hand. Even now with a milling mach I still do small one off projects by hand. But it's the craftsman time instead of set-up time.

The sight/base comes out of the old cut off barrel quickly with a carbide cut off wheel leaving a 1/32"-3/64" border around the sight base. This retains the small factory radius surrounding the base that tapers to the barrel surface, so important for that factory look matching the original forged integral base with the barrel. The knife edge polish blended into the barrel also leaves a much larger "footprint" for a good solder connection.

The extra material underneath the sight base also comes out fairly quickly by drilling out the barrel bore before cutting the sight out of the barrel. Then it's just a matter of fine tuning the height.

I use an old barrel wrapped in 150 to 240 paper. Run the sight up and down the barrel which at the same time replicates the curvature underneath the sight base to match the outside barrel radius perfectly. Leave the surface coarse from the sandpaper grit for a good solder joint adherence.

 

[StrawHat]

Not many gunsmiths had electric milling machines until maybe the late 20th century. We all had portable hand held ones aka files.

Kevin

 

[steelslaver]

Well, you could always get yourself a felt fedora, whip(where legal to own), and of course a flapped holster and have an adventure while carrying this Indy gun? Congratulations, I'd have purchased this in a New York minute. Sorry, I just watched this series of movies again recently.
Steve

Just curious. Is there really locations where a whip is illegal. I am such a hick from the sticks on a lot of laws. Its like pocket knives. I remember being shocked to find out that some cities did allow a simple pocket knife.

 

[nbedford]

Just curious. Is there really locations where a whip is illegal. I am such a hick from the sticks on a lot of laws. Its like pocket knives. I remember being shocked to find out that some cities did allow a simple pocket knife.

Really, where at? Never heard of such, but if I do go anywhere, it's mostly Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma. I've been carrying a 3" A.G. Russell lockblade forever.

 

[Hondo44]

Of course the real issue here is the position of the lettering(patent dates ie.).
Steve

Steve,

I forgot, I meant to comment on the barrel lines of patent dates because you bring up a good issue to do with barrel shortening and sight remounting.

Patent date lines that run up under the front sight are as obvious as a **** in the punch bowl. I'm not saying that I'm trying to fool someone into thinking the barrel isn't modified. But if the front end of the patent date lines are shortened/sanded off short and "feathered" into the remaining text of the front end/rear end of the sight base, at a natural break point in the text, i.e., between two words for example, it's much less weird looking or as obvious to the most casual observer.

For a severely shortened barrel all date lines can be removed. However, the last date at the rear of the bottom line is often the only important one to reference so I try to leave at least that much intact.

 

[StrawHat]

This front sight is well done, not perfect but well done. It is on my old EDC.

Kevin

 

[Hondo44]

That's a very professional custom sight, apparently a modification of the original 1/2 moon sight. The radiused joint of base to barrel gives it a factory look and is very well done.

The bead is perfect for the early rear U notch of pre ~1926 vintage. And serrations of the rear edge are well done. Clearly it's had years of wear and usual dings but the craftsmanship shows thru.

 

[S.B.]

I agree very nice looking pistol and work! My compliments and congratulations, sir.!

 

[StrawHat]

That old 4" is still one of my favorites.

Kevin

 

[Kinman]

I had a triple lock that someone had butchered the front sight in a similar manner, to each his own is about all I could say about it. It didn't help me shoot the piece any better than an original would but must have suited its previous owner or whoever did the deed. I thought I could get over the transgression but eventually sold or traded it off, I guess I wasn't "big" enough to see past it. Stuff like that can get to you if your picky, I've gone out of my way to correct misdeeds done by others. This time there wasn't much I could do, I talked to an accomplished gunsmith who claimed that he could tig weld it back to proper proportion, reblue to match and according to him only he and I would be the wiser. As long as I knew it was altered that would be enough to turn me off, I traded it or sold it.

 

[Hondo44]

That can truly be a flawless repair. However, it the blue finish is original, having to re-blue it is the deal killer!!

 

[BC38]

I got to bring it home today, and pulled that ugly Hogue monogrip off.

Some minor putting under the grips on the rebated portion of the grip frame. Looks like whoever did the reblue didn't bother sanding down the pits if they were covered by the grips. No big deal, they aren't rusty, so they are old news.

Guess what else I found under that big slab of rubber covering up most of the sideplate?

The 1937 Brazilian Crest! So I guess that means this frame sat around in S&W's inventory for a while before it got assembled into a working gun for export?

Being a Brazilian also explains the light pitting and refinish. From what I've read most of them saw some pretty hard use south of the equator.

I put a much newer set of non-diamond magna stocks I had lying around on it and it looks SOOOO much better.