front sight for a cut down barrel.

[Tubac]

In the BOSS forum there was talk of using a cut down dime to replace a front sight, by pinning it to the barrel .
I'm intrigued by this, as I have a Merwin & Hulbert .44 with a cut dowm barrel. The only way I could figure to do this would be to mill a slot the thickness of the dime into the barrel and silver solder it in.
Would there be any other way?
Thanks
Tubac, who has an 1871 Mexican 10 centavo.

[Stacey Lee]

It could be Staked too if formed into 1911A1 stake configuration. Not sure how well the Centovo would hold up though, being American tourist flesh its made out of ? Just teasing.
That would be alot of work, and a Dove-tail might be easier, then get a Uberti made Colt Flat Top Target Cattlemen front sight base, German Silver blank ( or Silver Centavo )for the front blade and your good to go, for real. And it would be adjustable too, just a thought for ya.
Another way to do this, albeit not period correct as so many people like to use this phrase here even if they drive pick-ups to the shoots is, to get some Locktight Brand sight Epoxy in black, From Brownellss, about $8.00 , and it will hold that sight in for sure, it is tough stuff and I run it on a CZ pistol I have in the mighty 40 S&W after I staked it too just for good measure .
And if htere is enough meat on that barrel, you could cut two wheeled slots ( milling machine) on each side of the sight where it goes on the barrel and one for the dime and drill through and actually roll pin a piece of silver into the third slot. Makes it replaceable that way too, but not sure if you have enough metal to work with on that gun ? I have seen that done too ona .22 pistol a customer had, but he had allot of metal to work with on the barrel of course.

Hope this helps, Stacey Lee, out 

[St. George]

Staking's completely out of the question - given the placement of the sight - as is the use of any epoxy or roll pin to make it faster to install.

During the time frame - a slot was cut by hand using a small file - then the front sight was shaped to fit the slot, and pinned in place with a solid pin.

Today - you can achieve the same effect by use of a milling machine.

Mill the slot - shape the front sight - insert - drill through both the sight and rib - pin and peen.

In the case of that cut barrel - mill the slot - ensure that the coin's going to be a tight -'drive-fit' and use a low-temp silver solder - then, clean the join lines 'very' carefully and buff very gently to minimize heat discoloration and 'meld' the finishes together.

A Merwin, Hulbert deserves at least that much care and thought.

Good luck - go slowly and you should be rewarded with a neat, workmanlike result.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Tubac]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to find a 'smith to do the work.
Here are photos of the old gal.

Tubac

[Mustang Gregg]

How is the front sight attached the barrel on an uncut M&H?  Have you investigated that yet?  Original ways are sometimes the best fixes.
Or I'd probably go with St George's recommendation.  It appears there is enough metal in the area for a dovetail to be milled.

No way it could be staked (as in M-1911A1).

MG
(amateur)

[Lone Gunman]

How is the front sight attached to the barrel on an uncut M&H?

BTW, this is a pin, not a screw, despite the appearance.
Notice how the rib stops just short of the muzzle.

[Tubac]

Thanks for the photo. but my revolver has no rib on the barrel. The barrel itself will have to be milled.

Tubac

[Montana Slim]

The "un-ribbed" MH revolvers, such as yours, had a front sight that is integral with the barrel. A few options for you include: a shallow dovetail (consider a scratch-built), a milled slot to press in a blade (ala Colt SAA), or perhaps solder-on a base and pin the blade per Mustang Gregg's photo.

Slim

[Tubac]

Thanks Slim,

I'm thinking of a milled slot and sil;ver solder.

Tubac

[Cincinnati Slim]

Howdy,

I'd like to recommend a front sight solution.

Order a Remington dovetail mounted front sight for a Uberti 1858 Remmie from Dixie or VTI.

Wheeler engineering makes a neat little dovetail cutting fixture, Midway has it for about thirty bucks.

I found a 8 inch file the right thickness at Home Depot. Followed the Wheeler Eng. instructions and thirty minutes later I drifted a new sight into the dovetail with a brass punch !

The sight is the right height for a .44 caliber with a 7-8 inch barrel. If your M-H barrel is shorter you'll probably need to file just a little off the new sight. The Uberti Remmie sights are cheap, buy two so if you screw one up you're covered !

Cheers,

Cincinnati Slim

[22lr]

You mean like this?

This came from Doug Turnbull's website.  It's not mine, but maybe someday...