Patridge Front site removal

[Engine49guy]

I was wondering if anyone had pictures of what the patridge front site looks like when removed from the barrel.

I can see a set pin horizontally in the barrel rib,
Is there a milled channel beneath it, is it a drilled hole?

Also, Is there an adhesive used as well to secure the site?

 

[john323]

The last one I removed had a hole drilled and no adhesive.

 

[Engine49guy]

Thanks for the reply,
So they basicly use two intersecting holes and the bottom of the ramp has a round lug with a set pin hole cross drilled through it?

 

[Alk8944]

Thanks for the reply,
So they basicly use two intersecting holes and the bottom of the ramp has a round lug with a set pin hole cross drilled through it?

I have no idea what you are trying to describe, but it sounds like the ejector in a 1911.

The cut for the S&W front sight is semi-circular and looks just like a Woodruff keyway. The sight itself has a protrusion on the bottom the same width as the sight above the ramp/rib, and this protrusion is basically shaped like a Woodruff key. The sight is a tight fit in the "Keyway" and needs to be pressed or lightly driven with a soft object like a round Babbit bar. A Lead ingot works well if you cast bullets. The sight is then held in by a crosspin through the ramp and sight. Earlier guns have a narrower rib on the sight that fits in a slot machined in the ramp/rib and is then pinned.

 

[Engine49guy]

Thank you for that description,
The explanation was so awesome I could picture it in my head.

Unfortunately I did not do well in shop class or in English Vocabulary.
Maybe its a good thing I am alive in the age of digital pictures...each one worth 1000 words.
Cheers.

 

[mistergizmo]

Here's the visual. The cut in the barrel is not square, as was stated above.

I've replaced a lot of red ramps with Patridge fronts. The crosspin is a #55 drill I think. Not all replacements have the hole pre-drilled.

A relatively straightforward job, although a usually put a slight "bend" in the new crosspin to keep it in place, along with a drop of red Loctite.

 

[n4zov]

mistergizmo and Alk8944 nailed it. Ever replacement front sight I have ordered from S&W has come undrilled and a drill press is a big help drilling for the cross pin(s). I suppose you could do it with just a hand drill, but it would be easy to make a mess of it.