Not Sure I Understand S&W’s Answer

[Whit]

I called S&W to inquire about having a black front sight blade installed on a 3" barreled Model 66-2. The existing front sight is integral to the ramp. The current crop of Smith revolvers have pinned black front sights. The rep said that because the revolver was older they could not mill off the integral blade and pin in a current blade. Then he told me to go to Brownell's to order a new insert, to which I responded that my need was not an insert but a blade. Got the same response, we can't change the sight blade because my gun is old.

Perhaps my logic is faulty, but it would seem to be a simple task to mill off the stainless blade, mill a cut for the black blade, drill a hole and pin the blade to the ramp as current revolvers are produced.

What am I missing that is different about my old revolver and the current production models front sight set up?

Guess they just don't want my money!

 

[needsmostuff]

Perhaps my logic is faulty, but it would seem to be a simple task to mill off the stainless blade, mill a cut for the black blade, drill a hole and pin the blade to the ramp as current revolvers are produced.

That is a good remedy but the part that is missing is S&W will not convert it that way.
Any "real" gunsmith should have no problem doing it.
Probably get the whole job done locally for not allot more than just shipping to S&W would run.

 

[shawn mccarver]

They are not set up to do custom gunsmithing, even seemingly simple jobs, and they haven't been willing to do so for years.

 

[sigp220.45]

They are not set up to do custom gunsmithing, even seemingly simple jobs, and they haven't been willing to do so for years.

Yep, and if they somehow messed it up they don't have a spare barrel for a replacement.

 

[chief38]

Yes....

Sigp22.45 is exactly right. Since they don't have any replacement barrels for old Revolvers they will not take a chance on ruining it and not being able to replace it. Given their current track record I don't blame them.

If your Revolver has a red insert in it you could always knock it out and replace it with a black one. If that's not good enough then you can have the dovetail cut braised and powder coat it black afterwards. That would be easier, eliminate most of the risk, would allow you to change it back one day by re-cutting the dovetail and putting back the red insert, and it's probably less expensive that way as well.

Of course you could always go to a Gunsmith and let him do the work, but it would make me a bit nervous cutting into the bbl. for the same reason S&W won't do the work.

 

[Laketime]

This is a case for a local gunsmith to do the job you want.

 

[target tech]

Years ago I had the front sight of my 6" 66-1 milled off and a pinned patridge sight installed. It's a simple job for a good gunsmith with a decent machine shop. I never understood why they never made them that way. Most of the 19s have that arrangement.

 

[Bald1]

This is a case for a local gunsmith to do the job you want.

If it's anything like where I live , good luck finding an old school gunsmith that does machine work. Nowadays Millennials bolt AR parts together and call themselves gunsmiths. UGH !!!

 

[glenwolde]

Another vote for taking it to a local. Given your location I'd recommend Briley in Houston. They've worked on a couple of my S&W's.

 

[Whit]

Thanks for all the suggestions. As difficult as the 3" 66 is to come by, I don't want to mess it up. Old eyes just don't see that stainless front sight, even with the insert, as well as a black sight.

I may take glenwolde's advice to contact Bailey in Houston to see if they believe they can do the job without damaging the barrel. Ah for the old days when Smith pinned the ramp to the barrel rib and the blade to the ramp.

 

[lefty_jake]

As difficult as the 3" 66 is to come by, I don't want to mess it up.

This. That is a very desirable, valuable, and hard to find revolver. I would be suspicious of any gunsmith who thought milling on a 3" 66 barrel was a good idea. A gunsmith I would trust would try more than once to talk the customer out of modifying that barrel, and then impose a mandatory waiting period before doing the work.

I have used Testor's flat black enamel point on the front sights of stainless revolvers with very satisfactory results. When I use orange paint on sights, then I prefer gloss paint. But when I use black paint to give a target style sight picture, then flat black works best for my eyes.

And if the gun has an orange insert, but you don't like it, then you can just paint right over it with Testor's paints. I have done this and been satisfied with the results. And I am pretty picky about the surface finish on my front sight.

 

[gwpercle]

Mick Jagger sings a song .... Paint It Black ...
Flat Black paint on the sighting part of the blade and you are done .

I found that a base coat of flat white from a Bic White-Out Correction Pen was even more visible than a black blade ...
I would leave the milled sight alone ... it's a better way to attach a sight ... use automotive engine paints to get a long lasting finish ...
epoxy paints are also quite durable for sight painting .
Gary

 

[Alk8944]

Contact Bill at Cylinder and Slide, Fremont, NE.

 

[reddog81]

I've used graphite spray on front sights before and it works well. Tape off around the area and spray it on. It holds up for a quite a few range trips before a touch up is needed. No alteration necessary.

 

[Whit]

Yes, lefty jake, I've considered that the 3" 66 is one I might not want to take a chance on messing up given the difficulty of finding one. I may rethink a solution based on the advise folks have offered. In years past I would not have hesitated to sent it to Smith, and in fact have sent revolvers back for modifications, but maybe not in today's environment.

Based on past experiences, I thought Smith could do this job without breaking a sweat, or my revolver. As I said earlier, ah for the good old days.

 

[CALREB]

I get that its a 3" 66. But most competent real gunsmiths deal with old expensive family heirloom stuff on a regular basis. It was a very common proceedure to get done in the past. Lot of distinguished revolvers started out as ramp front sights and then were converted to patridge. I had my wifes 67 done years ago so she had a decent front sight, 100 bucks, way back then at Alan Tanaka Firearms. Precision mold maker who became a gunsmith. I think Baytown is down south, call 10 ring precision in San Antonio, I would be shocked if they woundn't do it.

I would however make sure that I took it to a QUALITY gunsmith like 10 ring, not some local who does not do this type of work on high end guns on a regular basis. Yes you will pay more and wait longer BUT way less chance of being disappointed.
Alan is out in Ca, and I dont even know if he still is in business. Top PPC gun is another example of his work. Alex Hamilton at 10 ring has the same type reputation. Just my .02.

 

[OLDSTER]

I agree with ALK8944; call Cylinder and Slide. They do lots of that kind of work.