Install new front sight

Dirty Dick · February 15, 2020, 06:49:35 PM

It seems I took a little too much off my Pietta SAA .44-40, how do I remove the old blade and install a new one? Is it soldered in place? Don't believe I've ever heard of how it is done.

DD

Major 2 · February 15, 2020, 09:29:45 PM

It is either silver soldered in or if you're lucky staked

Coffinmaker · February 16, 2020, 09:31:44 AM

Choice # 2.

You might consider a "Sure Hit" front sight. The Sure Hit fits over the OEM sight and is glued on. Deliberately trying to remove the OEM sight will NOT be fun. Damage to the guns finish is virtually assured.

Lucky R. K. · February 16, 2020, 10:34:17 AM

If you are equipped, mount the gun on a mill and cut a 3/8" dovetail thru the old sight. Buy a new sight and insert.

Lucky

Coal Creek Griff · February 16, 2020, 10:49:53 AM

Well, I'll give you my experience. Several years ago, I was attempting to turn the barrel to correct the windage. The barrel slipped in the jig and the front sight popped out. It didn't appear to be soldered, but simply pressed into a groove in the barrel. I filled the groove with J-B weld, and pressed the sight back in. An advantage was that the windage was also corrected at the same time.

I can't say that all guns are like mine, but it did not appear to be soldered at all.

CC Griff

Coffinmaker · February 16, 2020, 03:15:44 PM

Ahhhh NO!! Very serious consideration here.

Lucky, if you cut a Dovetail into the barrel and install a from sight by that method, the gun is no longer legal for SASS CAS. Now, IF Dirty Dick does NOT intend to play the Game, it would be my first choice (I like dovetail sights).

The "Shur Hit" front sight is the easiest, simplest and quickest method. Plus it allows some more "adjustment" to point of impact. Then we have the old rule. You cannot put the metal back. File an itty bitty bit, shoot. File and itty bitty bit, shoot. When it gets close .... STOP. Chances of getting the elevation absolutely perfect is near ZERO. Close really does count.

Coal Creek Griff · February 16, 2020, 03:32:19 PM

To clarify, the slot for the front sight on my Pietta is parallel to the bore and the width of the sight. I've replaced a few front sights on my Italian revolvers and so far found them to be simply pressed into the slot with a friction fit. My guns may be unique in that regard, but it has worked for me.

CC Griff

Dirty Dick · February 17, 2020, 03:04:33 PM

Thanks, Coffinmaker, for the info. Where can I purchase a Sure Hit front sight? None of the vendors I've looked at have them.

DD

Abilene · February 17, 2020, 03:07:24 PM

Coffinmaker is probably busy sawing off a barrel. Here ya go:

http://www.slickmagicguns.com/SureHitSights.html

Dirty Dick · February 17, 2020, 05:40:18 PM

Thanks, Abilene, SO many vendors and sources of information for this newbie!

DD

Coffinmaker · February 17, 2020, 06:01:28 PM

Abilene, How'd you know

I just turned my Evil Twin Hacksaw MacGurk loose just today.

;Dirty Dick

Lurking in the weak and sordid minds of our electronic denizens is sufficient combined knowledge to absolutely bury you in INFORMATION. Some of it is even useful

Trust Me, we are capable of keeping you completely CONFUSED.

Cholla Hill Tirador · February 18, 2020, 03:19:25 AM

The two I've messed with, both Uberti's, were soldered in. One has an antiqued finish so I didn't mind doing the remove and replace myself, which was fairly simple. The other, a Cimarron Model P, had a nice blue finish so I took it to a local 'smith who charged me $25.

CHT