Coin as replacement frontsight on a 1st gen SAA?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have an 1896 vintage Colt Frontier Six-Shooter in .38WCF, minus the front sight.  I believe there is a specially shaped frontsight, with `horns`designed for it.

What would be a cool coin to make a replacement?

The old gun has been re-finished.  I bought it in Edmonton awhile back, and fancy that it was used in the Klondike goldrush.

[Pettifogger]

Anything will make a replacement if you file it to fit.  If you are not going to replace it with a proper 1st gen style front sight, a coin from 1896 or before would look good.  I would leave the date visible so it looks kinda period.

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings Sir Charles -

The ubiquitous "Seated Liberty Dime" can be had for as little as $5 to $15 U.S. in sad condition, but the point of using such a coin is the presence of an intact milled edge which provides for a nice sight picture. There are many other coins out there with a milled edge and the right date which would prove very nice... when shooting, many gents often prefer to blacken the bright silver edge with soot or let it tarnish.

By all menas, please supply photos when available :-)

yhs
Prof Marvel

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I found that dimes are way too thin for the slot in my 6-shooter, about .080"  The closest practical coin of US or Canadian provenance dated close to the time was a nickel.  A coin shop had a box full of miscelaneous coins and tokens for $1 each,  I grabbed a 1937 buffalo/indian head nickel, to try.  It was just a bit thin @ .074".  They had a 1910 "V" nickel as well.  I noticed that a handful of old nickels varied up to .007 due to wear.  My gunsmith is on holidays so this won't be done until the fall.

I don't think a Mexican coin suits my guns likely history, but there was a nice turn of the century coin, brass and large, but I don't recall the denomination.  A US silver dollar could be cut to fit, but at $20 or so just to cut a bit out seems a waste.