Stainless Rear Sights

[bluetopper]

Does anyone know how long the stainless rear adjustable sights were manufactured after S&W first came out with stainless revolvers? The model 66 no dash in particular.
I know It didn't take long for S&W to decide they were too hard on the tooling to manufacture and replaced them with blued rear sights.

 

[colt_saa]

The sights were actually replaced because stainless front/rear sights were too hard to see in bright sunlight.

LEOs hated them

It was probably some time in late 1973 or early 1974 that the Factory returned to the black rear sight

Smith & Wesson wastes nothing so once the black sights started shipping, stainless still trickled out. After all they were not going to throw away all of those sight assemblies

You will also find Revolvers from those first few years that had the stainless sight blade replaced with a black one for the improved sight picture.

 

[snw19_357]

It was late in 1975, same time as they introduced the 2.5" version.

...they were too hard on the tooling to manufacture and replaced them with blued rear sights.

Although they were black and not silver, they were still made of stainless steel.

(page from 1982 catalog, first one I opened)

 

[bluetopper]

I was asking because I just won on auction a four inch model 66 no dash with the stainless rear sight and no red ramp front sight and a recessed cylinder. Looking very forward to getting it in.

 

[bananaman]

I have a 67 no dash from 1973. Painted the front sight, and the rear one did not bother me. Bob

 

[Ameshawki]

My 67 is from 72. I use a Sharpie on the front and rear. Same with my 75 era 66.

 

[gmborkovic]

I can remember at the shop replacing a lot of rear SS rear sights with black inserts and complete units. And installing red inserts. I believe it was 1973 and 74.

 

[SS336]

My M66 had a stainless rear sight. Very hard to see in certain conditions so I changed it by installing a new black replacement. Did this in '75 and it worked perfectly.
Still works today.

 

[sheepdawg]

Stainless rear sights are also terrible in indoor ranges.

 

[bluetopper]

I figured stainless sights were sought after by some as a mark of the very earliest stainless guns.

 

[Green Frog]

My 66 ND came with a stainless sight that was soon changed out for a blued one. After it became Project 616 it finally got an old Behlert custom sight from back in the '70s that I'd been saving. In addition, the 617 bbl I had rebored to 32 had a pinned front sight blade so it now has a sort of Patridge type blade. I went from all stainless sights to a set I can actually see, even with my old eyes.

"What a long, strange road it's been!" ~ with proper acknowledgement to Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.

Froggie

 

[SmithNut]

My early M66 had the stainless front ramp and a damaged rear sight blade from being dropped sometime in it's past. Replaced the rear with the blue blade, and since the front sight was pinned in I had to replace the ramp with a blued Patridge.

I think it looks as good as it functions....

One of my favorite shooters

 

[Doug M.]

I figured stainless sights were sought after by some as a mark of the very earliest stainless guns.

*
This would be a good way to distinguish the collector population from the utilitarian population. To a collector, the poor sight picture resulting from the stainless sights will not be a major disincentive. To folks like me, who start from the perspective that all firearms must be adequately useful for serious use (personal defense being my priority, but also accepting hunting and some other uses as "serious"), those all stainless sights are a problem to be overcome by replacement.

 

[moonsterman]

According to the s&w bible SS sights bring $100 premium , I have both a 66 &67 with SS sights , and did not pay extra 4 them (I dont think the seller knew what they had) I agree with Doug M , this is where collectors and shooters part ways ....like box and papers stuff. For the recorder I am a collector!!

sent from my tap talk using my phone

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have a Model 66 ND from '76. It has the black sights.