Rear Sight ID

[flundertaker]

I think I’ve got the incorrect rear sight. When fully seated in the slot the front screw hole doesn’t line up with the hole in the top strap. The sight hole is too far forward. To make the holes align the barrel the holds the blade is hanging off the end of the frame. Pics show better than I can describe. I’m guessing I have a N frame sight and a k frame gun. Thoughts please!

 

[murphydog]

It 'may' be the correct sight style, but the later version of this part moved the hole for the sight leaf screw away from the barrel/cylinder gap. If you have another K frame gun or two with Target sights I'd compare or try a swap.

 

[flundertaker]

It 'may' be the correct sight style, but the later version of this part moved the hole for the sight leaf screw away from the barrel/cylinder gap. If you have another K frame gun or two with Target sights I'd compare or try a swap.

Doing a little research it looks like the earlier version has an overall length of about 2.75” and a hole to hole distance of 1.8”. This is about 15/100” and 1/10” respectively shorter than the sight I was trying to fit and this earlier version dimensions would appear to fit my 1961 K frame

 

[flundertaker]

Just to close the loop on this, I bought a shorter version rear sight off eBay and it worked perfectly. Everything lined up. Some pics attached of the 2 versions.

 

[murphydog]

The longer one may very well be for an N frame. Be sure to save it for the next purchase that needs it.

 

[flundertaker]

The longer one may very well be for an N frame. Be sure to save it for the next purchase that needs it.

Will definetly do. I don’t buy many that would be missing a sight but a great deal on a scoped 53 came across and I had to have it. I knew it was a reverseable mod even though I didn’t know at the time of purchase there were more than one rear sights for a K frame. The seller included the sight that as it turns out is not for the gun I bought. Not a problem, he probably got them mixed up or was given incorrect info when he bought the gun. Doesn’t matter, the deal was still a good one and I learned a few things and now have an extra rear sight for either an N frame or later model K frame. Based on the overall length, I think it’s for an N. Next time I have one out of the safe I will throw the caliper on it and measure to know for sure.