Patridge front sight on a 686

[ldryder]

Did Model 686's ever come with Patridge front sights?

I just picked up a 686 no-dash, 4" barrel, and it has a Patridge front sight installed.

It got me wondering if the gun might have come that way in 1982 or if a ramp front sight was replaced at some time.

 

[sw282]

Yep.. My 686-4 Power Port

 

[SmithNut]

Patridge

Have seen some early M586's with Patridge, have to assume some of the M686's would have them too. Of course the PP as noted above had them.

 

[woodsltc]

I had an early, 6-inch, 686 no-dash that came with a patridge front sight.

Don

 

[ldryder]

Now I'm wondering why Patridge sights were installed in lieu of the more-common ramp sights.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Now I'm wondering why Partridge sights were installed in lieu of the more-common ramp sights.

FYI: The sights are named Patridge, not Partridge.

Was under the impression that Patridge was for target shooting and Ramp made for smoother extraction from holsters, for guns that were carried.

 

[ldryder]

The spell-checker on the computer changed the spelling and I didn't notice it. LOL

Patridge sights for target seems very logical but I wonder why the revolvers would have been sold that way when they were new.

 

[6string]

Back in the early 80s when the L frame was introduced, I used to frequent a dealer (Shuriken Dist.) that primarily served law enforcement, but was open to the public.
They carried S&W as their exclusive firearms line, and were a factory certified service center. They had displays of S&W parts on racks including front and rear sight blades, various grips, single action parts kits for K frames, etc.
They would set up any S&W revolver with whatever sights you wanted.
I'm not suggesting that's the case with the OP, but variations that look "factory" but were, in fact, armorer "one-offs" do turn up.

Jim

 

[riverrat38]

It might have to do with barrel length, Patridge on the 6 inch and Red Ramp on the shorter ones.
I think early models had internal blades, so they couldn't be changed without machine work, which should be obvious. New ones are pinned.
My 6 inch from the late 90's had a Patridge blade, as I recall. Its long gone.

Best,
Rick

 

[SmithNut]

Now I'm wondering why Patridge sights were installed in lieu of the more-common ramp sights.

Maybe because they are preferable (to some of us anyway )

 

[ldryder]

Tucked away in the corner of my bookshelf was my copy of Jerry Kuhnhausen's The S&W Revolvers 5th Edition. I just pulled it out and looked at the Parts Diagram for the S&W Model 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum. I found that there were two different barrels shown for that gun. The longer-appearing barrel (6"?) has the Patridge sight and the shorter-appearing barrel (4"?) has the ramp sight. Maybe the 6" barrels came with the Patridge but at some time during the past 36 years, some prior owner put one on a 4" barrel?

 

[dogdoc]

My early 686 no dash with box has patridge front sight. Shot it yesterday

 

[Dieseltech56]

I really want a no dash 8 3/8s with a patridge front sight. I have seen a few online but never locally.

 

[ShadyDrifter]

No dash 6"

 

[D Brown]

Did Model 686's ever come with Patridge front sights?

I just picked up a 686 no-dash, 4" barrel, and it has a Patridge front sight installed.

It got me wondering if the gun might have come that way in 1982 or if a ramp front sight was replaced at some time.

I know a lot of 6" barrel 686's had Patridge front sights.

Here's my Model 686-2 with 4-Position Patridge front sight.

 

[ImDrRich]

Patridge Sight

Did Model 686's ever come with Patridge front sights?

I just picked up a 686 no-dash, 4" barrel, and it has a Patridge front sight installed.

It got me wondering if the gun might have come that way in 1982 or if a ramp front sight was replaced at some time.

Sir: Why on earth would you post this thread without photos?

Please do not tease the reader(s).

 

[ldryder]

Sir: Why on earth would you post this thread without photos?

Please do not tease the reader(s).

I didn't post photos because I'm not finished cleaning my new acquisition and I don't have the correct target stocks on it yet.

It came with Pachmayr Presentation grips that are perfect for shooting at the range but not what I prefer to look at when I'm admiring or photographing a beautiful revolver.

 

[muddocktor]

I didn't post photos because I'm not finished cleaning my new acquisition and I don't have the correct target stocks on it yet.

It came with Pachmayr Presentation grips that are perfect for shooting at the range but not what I prefer to look at when I'm admiring or photographing a beautiful revolver.

Awww, come on man. We've all seen things all dirty and wearing work clothes before.

 

[RGVshooter]

I'm seriously considering replacing my ramped front sight with the orange insert on my 4" 686-6 and replacing it with a got dot Patridge sight for target shooting

 

[muddocktor]

I'm seriously considering replacing my ramped front sight with the orange insert on my 4" 686-6 and replacing it with a got dot Patridge sight for target shooting

I have one that came on my model 27-5 and immediately fell in love with it. I've since installed them on my 629-3 Classic and my 627 Pro, which both have the quick change front sight system. But both S&W and SDM make pin on types for you to replace the ramp sight with on your pinned sight guns.