What does this rear sight fit?

[47knuckle]

OK experts, I need help identifying the model this sight came from.
Here's all I know:
It is the correct length for an N frame.
It is similiar to the sight on my 38-44 Outdoorsman, with the following exceptions.
It is not polished as well as the Outdoorsman sight.
The sight blade has a white outline notch.
The rear of the sight body has horizontal grooves.

 

[murphydog]

My guess it is an original prewar N frame rear sight that had the rear section grooved. I think the white outline blade was available at that time but this may also be a newer replacement.

It would have only been original for a .38/44 Outdoorsman or a .44 HE 2nd or 3rd Model Target; the finish may just be worn or it may have been redone.

Does it have a serial number on the leaf?

 

[handejector]

Does it have a serial number on the leaf?

good question. Does it?
The Pre War Magnums had sights grooved like that. King made white outline blades for the S&W sight, and many Magnums shipped with them.

 

[rct269]

As Alan says---original for any and all N frames from its era (early 30's on to WWII). The 357 Magnum is the only one of that group with the horizontal grooves as standard.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[murphydog]

Ah, I forgot to look at my vast collection of RMs for this detail . Also forgot the sight leaf on these wasn't checkered. Thanks!

 

[rct269]

YEAH, RIGHT---

Excuses, excuses----always excuses----and the dog ate my homework!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Hondo44]

As posted by some above only on the pre war 357 Mag. Reg mag at first and carried on to the non-registered mag thru WWII and on the same PW Transitional model.

Occasionally these are found retrofitted to other pre war N frame target models. Have also been found on factory reworked fixed sight N frame models converted to target models at the factory and by private gunsmiths.

The ribbed pre war sight should not be construed by the above as being standard on any target models other than magnums.

 

[Hondo44]

That sight should not be confused with the other smooth tang sights with micro click adjustment found only on the pre war K22 2nd Model/1st Model Masterpiece or the post war Mexican Model K38. 2nd from top below:

 

[47knuckle]

mystery sight

I thought I had done a good job of describing my mystery sight, but forgot to look for something as obvious as a serial number on the bottom. I'm going to blame that on cabin fever caused by the restaurants and bars being closed.
"1974" on the bottom of the sight, "H" on the rear face of the sight leaf, nothing on the front of the sight leaf.
Thanks for the help so far.

 

[glowe]

Jim, I have a couple of 1st Model K22s that have the first two styles of rear sights. The first year example has the one screw sight and is sn 637506. the second is sn 659371 and has the two screw sight? They were shipped in 1931 and 1936 respectively, so I assume there was a transition somewhere between these years.

 

[handejector]

Jim, I have a couple of 1st Model K22s that have the first two styles of rear sights. The first year example has the one screw sight and is sn 637506. the second is sn 659371 and has the two screw sight? They were shipped in 1931 and 1936 respectively, so I assume there was a transition somewhere between these years.

We buys you books an we sends you to school.....
You DO have to read em an not just look at the pickshers!

 

[glowe]

You did not say what book to read???? Added those dates to my notes, thanks.

So my take is that there were not many K22 Outdoorsman revolvers made with the single screw rear sight??? So I can probably sell mine for a huge profit!!

 

[LLOYD17]

I thought I had done a good job of describing my mystery sight, but forgot to look for something as obvious as a serial number on the bottom. I'm going to blame that on cabin fever caused by the restaurants and bars being closed.
"1974" on the bottom of the sight, "H" on the rear face of the sight leaf, nothing on the front of the sight leaf.
Thanks for the help so far.

RM with the serial 51974 isn’t in the database but would have been in the Reg 2500ish and likely shipped in 1937.

NRM with the serial 61974 is right in the range of the July 1940 shipment to the KCPD.

 

[handejector]

You did not say what book to read???? Added those dates to my notes, thanks.

So my take is that there were not many K22 Outdoorsman revolvers made with the single screw rear sight??? So I can probably sell mine for a huge profit!!

You don't have Neal & Jinks?
Early K-22s also have a gold Call bead that changed to stainless in 1931.

 

[SDH]

My Outdoorsman has a stainless bead and single screw sight. It shipped in December 1932.

 

[glowe]

You don't have Neal & Jinks?
Early K-22s also have a gold Call bead that changed to stainless in 1931.

It is somewhere around. Gold Call bead like this one?