Ramp Sight Gap

[Doc44]

I am surprised a revolver with this type of defect would pass final inspection. Normally, the ramp base is in line with the end of the barrel rib. When your 19-3 was made, it was normal to pin the ramp base to the barrel using two pins. The lines on top of the barrel ran to the end so the ramp base was pinned on top of them. This is normal for Model 19s, Model 25s, Model 29s, and Model 57s. By 1973, the ramp base was forged with the barrel and the ramp (Baughman or red ramp) was pinned to the ramp base with single pin.

Bill

 

[Hiram Jr]

I am surprised a revolver with this type of defect would pass final inspection. Normally, the ramp base is in line with the end of the barrel rib. When your 19-3 was made, it was normal to pin the ramp base to the barrel using two pins. The lines on top of the barrel ran to the end so the ramp base was pinned on top of them. This is normal for Model 19s, Model 25s, Model 29s, and Model 57s. By 1973, the ramp base was forged with the barrel and the ramp (Baughman or red ramp) was pinned to the ramp base with single pin.

Bill

Bill,
I'm glad to hear the base was installed on top of the lines. That was my big concern. That's why I initially thought it was cut. I couldn't understand why it (the base) was not sitting in a milled notch. Unbelievable that it would leave the factory like that, but I am convinced it did. Mine has 2 pins that run through and are polished flat and blued.
Even if just the sight was later added, the holes would have lined up with the new base, right? In other words, these holes were drilled originally in the wrong location.

 

[Hiram Jr]

I should tell them to fix it for free!

 

[Pine_Worker]

The sight is placed in the correct position, then the holes are drilled thru the rib and sight, then the pins are installed. Regardless, the sight was not installed in the correct position.

 

[Doc44]

A properly mounted red ramp/ramp base on a Model 19-3 shipped in 1971. Note the lines on the barrel under the base.

Bill

 

[Hiram Jr]

The sight is placed in the correct position, then the holes are drilled thru the rib and sight, then the pins are installed. Regardless, the sight was not installed in the correct position.

That's what I said. Barrel was NOT not cut, as you said. The sight was put on incorrectly, as others have said.

 

[Hiram Jr]

A properly mounted red ramp/ramp base on a Model 19-3 shipped in 1971. Note the lines on the barrel under the base.

Bill

That's the proof, right there! Thank you. My sight was put on at the factory, too far back from the muzzle.

 

[Hiram Jr]

So, to have it repaired (not by me!):



1) Remove pins
2) Slide base forward until flush with muzzle
3) Drill holes through existing hole in the barrel, through the sight base, provided the holes are not anywhere near the barrel holes. Otherwise the existing holes in the base could be elongated.
4) Re-pin


Am I close? Is this something that is do-able by a truly proficient smith?

 

[Pine_Worker]

That's what I said. Barrel was NOT not cut, as you said. The sight was put on incorrectly, as others have said.

Oh well, first impressions are not always right.

 

[Hiram Jr]

Oh well, first impressions are not always right.

I hear ya. Those pics weren't all that great. Thanks for the FS assembly pic!

 

[Club Gun Fan]

So, to have it repaired (not by me!):



1) Remove pins
2) Slide base forward until flush with muzzle
3) Drill holes through existing hole in the barrel, through the sight base, provided the holes are not anywhere near the barrel holes. Otherwise the existing holes in the base could be elongated.
4) Re-pin


Am I close? Is this something that is do-able by a truly proficient smith?

Why are you beating a dead horse. This revolver is not a rare collectors item. It's a decent shooter. I for one would not loose any sleep if it were mine. Shoot it, enjoy it, or sell it if it really bothers you.

 

[Hiram Jr]

Why are you beating a dead horse. This revolver is not a rare collectors item. It's a decent shooter. I for one would not loose any sleep if it were mine. Shoot it, enjoy it, or sell it if it really bothers you.

Don,
I don't think it's a collector's item, in fact, the damned thing should have been rejected! But it's my gun, and if I want to get it corrected, what's wrong with that?

I am new to guns and am just asking questions. My apologies if that's aggravating you.

 

[Protocall_Design]

It seems to me that the best way to deal with this would be to clean out under the gap with solvent, blow it out or let it evaporate, then fill in the gap with Loctite. I would use #638 green. Once it cures, there won't be a gap, and no one will ever notice it.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

It seems to me that the best way to deal with this would be to clean out under the gap with solvent, blow it out or let it evaporate, then fill in the gap with Loctite. I would use #638 green. Once it cures, there won't be a gap, and no one will ever notice it.

I like that idea, I did that with my US Navy ring as the eagle was lifting

 

[Hiram Jr]

It seems to me that the best way to deal with this would be to clean out under the gap with solvent, blow it out or let it evaporate, then fill in the gap with Loctite. I would use #638 green. Once it cures, there won't be a gap, and no one will ever notice it.

Thank you, Protocall. I really find this stuff interesting. This is the first S&W I've owned. Just got my LTC in March.

 

[Hiram Jr]

Grumps Need Not Reply

This is interesting. Found this 19-3 online. Very similar sight placement as mine. Maybe tolerances allowed for it?

 

[GerSan69]

I hate to disagree with some heavyweight folks on here, but I'll stake my own humble resume on that barrel being cut down from a 6" or longer. I don't see the fact that it originally shipped with a 4" as a "final answer" - the original may have been the victim of a squib incident and then replaced with a cut-down barrel and the original sight.
There is just no way that sight would have been installed that far back from the edge of the top rib.
I have an older Heavy Masterpiece with a cut barrel and a similarly-placed front sight. Although mine is a sight that's properly on a 6", the grooves on top of the barrel can be plainly seen in front of the sight. I suspect that in both of these cases, the cut for the sight tab was milled before the end of the barrel was milled after cutting.
4-inch .38 Masterpiece

 

[flagman1776]

I think the barrel is as issued but the sight may not be. Only you can decide if it bothers you enough to fix.

 

[series guy]

Sorry for the poor photo but this is the sight/barrel on a K22 from 1956. The sight is on top of the serrations. A bit of a set back also. This gun is all factory original.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I hate to disagree with some heavyweight folks on here, but I'll stake my own humble resume on that barrel being cut down from a 6" or longer. I don't see the fact that it originally shipped with a 4" as a "final answer" - the original may have been the victim of a squib incident and then replaced with a cut-down barrel and the original sight.
There is just no way that sight would have been installed that far back from the edge of the top rib.
I have an older Heavy Masterpiece with a cut barrel and a similarly-placed front sight. Although mine is a sight that's properly on a 6", the grooves on top of the barrel can be plainly seen in front of the sight. I suspect that in both of these cases, the cut for the sight tab was milled before the end of the barrel was milled after cutting.
4-inch .38 Masterpiece

How do you explain the roll stamp of the words Smith & Wesson being in the same position as 4" barrels but 6" barrels they are much further forward?

Maybe it was a special stamping but I have never seen a 6" with the words set that far back.