Bent front sight blade. Help!

[Centurian22]

I recently noticed that my wife's H&R Model 732 .32 S&W long revolver has a bent front sight blade. It is "leaning" to the left a 'good bit' if I had to put a number to it I'd say 10-20 degrees. I have to do some range testing out to 'reasonable' distance to make sure this wasn't a deliberate adjustment at some point by a previous owner. If/when I determine that the bend needs to be fixed how should I go about trying to do it? Or would it best be left to a gunsmith. I was thinking of using wood to protect the sight from scratches or maring and vice grip pliers to clamp down on it and bend it back into place.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BBBBill]

Is the blade actually bent or is the barrel rotated so that the sight is past vertical?

 

[beag_nut]

Is the blade actually bent or is the barrel rotated so that the sight is past vertical?

What BBBBill said is very appropriate, because if the barrel is rotated too far, H&R should fix it. If not, then either a gunsmith or knowledgeable person could fix it by bending the sight back. But, I think the barrel is the problem.

 

[Haxby]

a deliberate adjustment at some point by a previous owner

That's my guess.

 

[JRH6856]

The original Harrington & Richardson went out of business in 1986. The current company, H&R 1871, LLC is now owned by Remington. It does not make handguns and does not provide any parts or service for the products of the original H&R company.

All H&R revolver barrels I have seen are pinned in place and very unlikely to rotate. It is more likely that the blade is actually bent. They are tall and thin and bend easily if the gun is dropped.

Be very careful trying to bend it back. It is silver soldered into a slot in the barrel and you can break it loose trying to bend it in place. It is much easier to de-solder it, flatten it, and then re-solder it. Any competent gunsmith should be able to do it.

 

[Centurian22]

I'll take a closer look for the rotated barrel thing. I was afraid it was only soldered in place. I'll have to see just how far off the POI is and if its worth paying a gunsmith to fix. I have electrical solder but don't imagine that would work and I would also imagine it would need re-bluing afterwards.

 

[JRH6856]

If the soldering is done carefully, it might not need a reblue. Silver solder doesn't take bluing anyway so it has to be colored differently. A good solder job will not leave the solder visible.

It might be possible to use a cold product like JB-Weld or epoxy. I can tell you from experience that Super Glue won't work (though it held for about 6 months on my H&R .22 until it lost to cleaning solvents)

 

[FROGO207]

I own two revolvers that are bent in this way to correct for accurate point of aim. This might be what it is. If it came this way to you I can almost assure you this is the reason. I would try shooting it a bunch (both of you need to try it for accuracy) before deciding what action to take if any. I have a couple H&R revolvers and they both have threaded AND pinned barrels. Both mine are .22 rim-fire however.

 

[Centurian22]

Ok so to update this: The barrel is not loose or rotated, the front sight blade is slightly bent to the right. From a decent rest at 25ft I was hitting a little high and 3-4" left with a good grouping. The slightly high could be from me holding on and not at "6 o'clock".

If I understand this correctly bending the front sight back to the left to straighten it out should shift my Point of Impact to the right and hopefully center everything up correct (or at least not make it worse). I have never adjusted a front sight before but am familiar with the "Front Opposite Rear Same" concept, I just forgot if that references point of impact or point of aim, I think it's point of impact. Any info or confirmation of this is appreciated.

The bend seems to be just at the tip of the sight not the base so I'm hoping just a pair of vice grips with some thin oak pads to prevent scratching will make it all right.

Thanks for all the help and advice thus far.

 

[RS708]

Had what sounds like the same kind of issue with my almost 100 year old Savage .22 bolt rifle. (model 23A).

Only difference was that I knew I had bent it somehow since it wasn't like that from the time I got it until I noticed it - so I have to assume I either hit it on something or dropped it (but don't remember ever dropping it - so more likely I hit something with it and not hard enough to notice at the time).

The sight is kind of thin and has a very small gold (or gold looking) dot on the top of the sight which is a bit thicker than the lower part of the sight.

I used either a vice grip or pliers with a piece of leather to protect the finish (gun still has nice bluing) and I very gently and slowly bent it back into position. Now it looks like it was before it got bent and the gun is as accurate as ever (rear sight has an elevation adjustment ...ramp style... but front sight, like most, is fixed)

Best of luck,
RS

 

[Centurian22]

Thanks RS708. Gives me a little more confidence going into this. And good idea with the leather!

 

[4v50 Gary]

I wouldn't use vise grips. I'd lay it flat with something behind it and tap it with a brass hammer.

 

[Centurian22]

I don't have a brass hammer but I could make something that would work. Thanks for the different approach.