Taller sight for M1860 revolver

[sandy4570]

Hello everyone I am new to this forum but this is a great site and lot of information. I need some idea on how to make the Army 60 front sight taller. I did modification on my .44 cal Navy 51 using JB weld and dutch tape , it's work but look very crude and Wild Bill Hitchcock won't approve it because the front sight is so tall it would caught his sash on the draw. I would like to modify the Army 60 but with a bit more professionally and make it look a bit nicer, Has any one here work on such modification and would you mind share some idea?

 

[Sven]

Hey... you may want to post this on the Gunsmithing and Repairs area, might get more replies.

-s

 

[Old Fuff]

You can do what the original users did back in the mid-19th century. Cut a small dovetail in the barrel and mount a higher sight. Suppliers of muzzleloading parts, such as Dixie Gun Works in Union City, TN have many different styles of sights and one of the kind used on German Mauser rifles or Luger pistols also work. I believe Dixie's catalog is about $5.00 and well worth the money.

 

[sandy4570]

Old Fuff Thank for the idea . I have Dixie catalog and I will have to look closely this time to see if they have some thing that I can use. I only see the front sight for rifle with very large base . I compare the height of my home made JB weld front sight and Brownell Mauser front sight and it seem that the Brownell sight is a bit short but it will look very nice on the revolver. Do you know how much is a fair gunsmithing fee for cutting a dove tail in to revolver like this?

 

[Old Fuff]

There are two ways to cut a dovetail. The best is with a milling machine, and the other is by hand with a file. This works (I have done it) but it takes some skill - and more important, practice.

Gunsmiths charge at different rates, but here the main question is: (1) does he use a milling machine, and (2) does he have the right size of cutter to make the dovetail you want. If he (or you) have to buy a tool the cost will obviously go up, but asking questions is free. If the "smith" has a cutter I would expect the charge would be around $25.00 or so. Most of this is for the time it takes to set up the job so you might consider getting both of your revolvers done at the same time.

Another potential source for a sight is Brownells - a gunsmith supply house. Go to: www.brownells.com

Look at some of the sights that have dovetail bases and are used on automatic pistols. Brownells also has a complete line of milling cutters and files.

Some of the "Dixie" sights have wide but thin bases, and are duplicates of those used on muzzleloading rifles. 19th century gunsmiths used them on revolvers also.

You may want to start with a "glue-on" front sight like you did with your first revolver to determine the correct height for the final one.

 

[sandy4570]

Old Fluff Thank you for the information .I will contact the gun smith and ask if he have the milling machine and can he install the front sight for my Army60 .

 

[sandy4570]

Old Fuff

I finally get a tall front sight for my Army60 and it only take me 5 years . The Mauser front sight work great but I couldn't cut the dovetail deep enough to secure the sight so I end up using JB weld to hold it in place, It look ugly and once in a while it fell off.

Two months ago I found this gadget on late night informercial called "Mighty putty " Now the front sight look a little bit like original and it hit dead on at 15 yards (All the flyer are cause by the wind -really )
[/IMG]
I put about 80 rounds through it and the sight did not fall off .

 

[Old Fuff]

What works.....

Works.

I would note that apparently during the middle 1800's, ogtagon barrels (think 1849 Pocket Model, 1851 Navy, and Remington revolvers )were more likely to be dovetailed for a higher front sight.

 

[scrat]

Well 5 years isnt that bad i guess. nice shooting

 

[sandy4570]

I hope the sight will not fall off like the one with JB weld , Last time it fell off I tried to shoot sightless like Josey wells but couldn't hit the side of a barn with it .

 

[Old Fuff]

Last time it fell off I tried to shoot sightless like Josey wells but couldn't hit the side of a barn with it .

Being that it was a movie, Josey didn't have to hit anything - the special effects folks took care of it. Seldom does the hero ever miss...

 

[StrawHat]

Being that it was a movie, Josey didn't have to hit anything - the special effects folks took care of it. Seldom does the hero ever miss...

Yeah, what the script writers write, the SFX people make happen.

Like shooting the rope with a scoped lever gun (different movie).

 

[WARDER]

original colts just like repros are sighted for 75meters thats why all colt revolvers have a low front sight WARDER

 

[WARDER]

P,s. If Thats A 15 Meter Target Group You Would Definitely Need A Lot More Practice