I have verified red, yellow, and green ramps in S&W's records, but never a white ramp.
Bill
Bill
Smith & Wesson Model 19 - The mystery of the WHITE (!) Baughman ramp insert
- Thread starter French Grumpy Bear
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French Grumpy Bear
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Thank you for this check, which confirms the information received above.
Is the hypothesis of a special order still possible or should I understand that no weapon has ever left the workshops with a white insert?
BLACKHAWKNJ
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Interesting. My Dan Wesson M-15 came with white front sight blades, they are interchangeable of course.
I bought a used 24-3 (3 inch) LH that had a white insert. As the combat stocks had been modified I assumed the red insert had been replaced. When I removed the insert, I found it had the pins on it which I assume means the plastic was flowed in as a liquid. I replaced it with a red insert. I still assume it wasn't factory but having the pins won't prove it is a factory job.
I have installed, by cutting the dovetail with a file, red, green, white, yellow and orange ramped inserts.
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French Grumpy Bear
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A modification of this type was a priori the most probable hypothesis. But it was contradicted by the gunsmith who recovered the weapon as part of an inheritance and from whom I bought it, it does not fit with the history of the weapon (imported and sold new) nor with the profile of its sole previous owner (meticulous collector who kept his weapons in original condition - the Tyler expander, removable, being the only relative departure from this principle -). Hence my questions.
I think I'll have to ask for a Historical Letter to clear up any doubts...
A white ramp would be a special order and usually (but not always) would be identified on the end label on the box, possibly in the special features section.
Bill
Bill
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French Grumpy Bear
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Thanks, I'll check that out next week when I get home. I admit that I have not yet taken the time to look into this information since purchasing it.
Rear Sight
Does it have a white outline rear sight?
Does it have a white outline rear sight?
OP
French Grumpy Bear
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Thank you for your first answers.
I understand that the presence of a white insert is not in itself exceptional, but that it is not a typical option offered by Smith & Wesson.
It's possible that Smith & Wesson produced guns with this type of white insert to order, but there are no known cases.
Most likely, the insert was either added by a gunsmith to a front sight without an original insert, or the original red insert was replaced by a white one.
Nevertheless, the reputable gunsmith who sold it to me - he held it as part of an estate - confirmed that it was an original Smith insert, but was unable to document this further.
At this stage, only an HL could confirm the gun's factory configuration.
Thanks again for your feedback.
I'm always interested in hearing from you.
Below is the revolver in its entirety (1978 Model 19-3 with a 4" barrel):
How was the gunsmith able to confirm it was an original S&W insert ?
I have a 629-1 that I bought used in 1992. It is MagnaPorted and has green insert. I assumed MagnaPort did it as part of porting job. Maybe not????? It’s the only green one I’ve seen.
Aftermarket insert.
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French Grumpy Bear
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Ha, ha, ha!... That's a good question! I don't know, I pressed him a little but he didn't explain any further. I didn't particularly believe him, but I wanted the gun, so I didn't insist for fear of offending him. It wasn't an essential point for me.
I understand completely. It’s a very nice gun. Seems to me the gunsmith hung up his gunsmith hat and put on his salesman’s hat.
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French Grumpy Bear
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Whether it's an original S&W insert or an aftermarket one, the ivory insert hypothesis is not at all absurd, and could explain the gunsmith's succinct and expeditious answers on the subject.
In fact, for some years now, the sale of objects made of ivory, or simply containing ivory, has not been authorized in France. In practice, therefore, it is now impossible to mention them in an advertisement or during negotiations. If that's the case, the gunsmith must have taken me for a naive fool to have insisted on the subject.
it's the same thing with tritium sights, now banned in France (but allowed to be sold on second-hand guns as long as they're not mentioned as a selling point).
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Bald1...Mag-Na-Port would install different colored inserts in front sights if I remember correctly. Is the insert smooth or have horizontal grooves? The latter indicates it was done by Mag-Na-Port.
Bill
Bill
My LEO partner had a Model 19 with a blue insert. He got it at Outside Repair when it was across the street from the main plant.
OP
French Grumpy Bear
Member
The insert is smooth (no horizontal grooves). Which would rule out a Mag-Na-Port installation, if I understand correctly.
Moreover, as the photo shows, the insert is not flush on either side of the blade, but is very slightly recessed.
Model19man
Member
In the past the plastic inserts were sold separately and both by and not by S&W. All sorts of colors were made - I had a Model 25-5 with a lime green ramp.Hello,
Having recently acquired a 1978 Smith & Wesson Model 19-3 with a 4" barrel, I'm still puzzled by a detail that seems astonishing.
The weapon's front sight is a Baughman-type ramp cut from the bar stock (as was still the case at the time).
So far, so good...
But then, the front sight insert isn't red, as usual, but... WHITE!
The Smith specialists will no doubt be able to enlighten me on this point, but this is the first time I've seen a white insert of this type!
I've seen red inserts fade over time, but never to the point of becoming white.
And here, it's REALLY white and looks totally original.
The gun is in excellent condition, has never been modified (original as it left the factory), has had only one owner before me (he kept it until the end, rest his soul), has fired very little and has been kept in very good condition.
It is therefore highly improbable that it has faded, and the only "modification" made to this revolver was the addition, at the time, of a Tyler trigger expander.
The gun was purchased new in Bordeaux (France) by its previous owner, from Ets. Hussenet & Laurent, who were responsible for importing it.
My question is as follows: Did Smith & Wesson produce models with white inserts?
If not, what do you think of this case? Do you know of any others?
Thank you for your attention, and especially to those who have answers to give me.
Best regards,
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