Rear sight on S&W Model 17-5 appears canted

[mikemyers]

These two photos are of my Model 17-5. When I bought it, the sight was damaged, and I bought replacement parts. Ever since then, the sight blade appears "canted" to the left. See my two recent photos.

I suspect I should buy a complete rear sight, and replace everything, but as I recall, rear sight assemblies are very difficult to find.

I don't think the problem is "serious", as much as it is annoying. I can still sight in the gun. I'd like to fix it properly if possible.

Any advice?

 

[Protocall_Design]

You can put the screw end in a vise and use a Crescent wrench on the other end to twist it back straight. Make sure to get the part with the hole in the vise jaws. If the hole is visible, it might crack or twist across the weaker part where the hole is. Use plastic, leather, or something softer than the steel to pad the vise and wrench jaws with to avoid marking the sight.

The art of revolver smithing is being able to adjust that which is non adjustable.

 

[rct269]

A gun with grips like that deserves a proper sight---and a proper (un-boogered) screw holding it in place.

As an aside, pretty screws on pretty guns with pretty grips can remain pretty by buying/using screwdrivers from Brownells rather than Lowes----or ACE-----or Home Depot----where they sell (what they call) screwdrivers which are designed/made to come out of slotted screws-----and booger them----and they do a first rate job of boogering.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Euclid]

It’s shifted to the right. It’s not uncommon for people to pull their shot to the left and shift the rear sight to the right to compensate for it.

 

[M29since14]

…The art of revolver smithing is being able to adjust that which is non adjustable.

Some truth to this. I think the OP is concerned that his barrel is not fully clocked to line the rib up with the frame. It looks like it needs a tiny twist to the left, which will move his point of impact a bit right, which might enable him to bring his blade back more to the center. This is really a job for a competent smith who has the tools to do the job. Not something I’d recommend to try without them. Likely the barrel should be removed from the frame and then re-seated - unless on the odd chance it happens to budge a bit left without undue force. Doesn’t need to move much.