OT- Replacing Vaquero front sight blade

[Otto]

How is the front sight held in place? It appears simply to be pressed into the slot, or is it welded? Is this something I can do, or do I need a gunsmith? Parts are available at Midway.

EDIT The existing sight has been filed pretty short, and rather crudely so. It also is bent to the left. I haven't test fired it, but all my others seem to shoot fairly close to POA as is, at least so far as my mediocre skills reveal. I can always file it again, but the existing sight looks as though someone worked it over with a bench grinder.

[madman4570]

I thought they silver soldered them after they are pinned in place with small pin holes?
Why do you want to replace it Otto?
Is it loose or has too much of it has been filed?
Usually I believe they require a barrel vise to get the true correct sight in!

[Otto]

I thought they silver soldered them after pinning with small pin holes?
Why do you want to replace it Otto?
Is it loose or has too much of it has been filed?

It has been filed pretty short, and rather crudely so. It also is bent to the left. I haven't test fired it, but all my others seem to shoot fairly close to POA as is, at least so far as my mediocre skills reveal. I can always file it again, but the existing sight looks as though someone worked it over with a bench grinder.

[adirondakjack]

I believe they are done the same way (shown on a recent "How it's made" episode) the USFA is done. The sight fits in a slot, then is welded using an induction ring method where the muzzle of the gun is held within a metal ring through which a current is passed. I believe it is similar to brazing..... In any event I would have the sight machined off, the slot re-cut, and the sight replaced. It's a job for a GOOD smith who can also regulate the pistol (which I doubt is really necessary) while he's at it. If ya want something really cool, buy a beat up old silver dime (ebay), and have the smith fashion a sight from it.....

If I had to guess, the PO was unfamiliar with SA revolvers, held it with his trigger finger "too deep" in the gun, causing it to shoot left and low. Instead of fixing his grip, he "fixed" the gun.....

[madman4570]

Guys just throwing this out there but how much more would it run just to have a brand new barrel put on that comes with new sight(also wouldnt he be able to have different options for the front type sight ?)
I know then the gun would not be original but if he wasnt concerned with that could that be a better option.

Honestly myself I like adjustable sights like on a blackhawk but for cowboy shooting both sights need to be fixed?
Also he would have that chance if he wanted a different barrel length? Like maybe a 4 or 5 incher!

[J Miller]

Madman,

Your best cure for that sight is to shoot that gun at a known distance, say 25 yards, with a known factory load, then ship it back to Ruger. They'll fix it and regulate it for you.
Probably cost less than what a gunsmith would cost.

Joe

[madman4570]

Probably right Joe, good point!

[Otto]

Guys just throwing this out there but how much more would it run just to have a brand new barrel put on that comes with new sight(also wouldnt he be able to have different options for the front type sight ?)
I know then the gun would not be original but if he wasnt concerned with that could that be a better option.

Honestly myself I like adjustable sights like on a blackhawk but for cowboy shooting both sights need to be fixed?
Also he would have that chance if he wanted a different barrel length? Like maybe a 4 or 5 incher!

As a matter of fact, I had looked into replacing the barrel with a 5-1/2-incher, but was advised it would be prohibitively expensive, so I tossed it into a drawer and forgot about it until now. I ran across it a few days ago, and thought maybe replacing the sight would be cheaper.

In retrospect, I should have known the blade was "welded" in place, because it has always iritated me that my stainless has a slight brassy discoloration in that area, as though a different metal were used.

[J Miller]

Otto,

I don't know how badly tilted that front sight is, but there is one other "fix" you might try.

Many years ago I needed to put a taller front sight on my second Cattleman revolver. I didn't want to have to go to a gunsmith so I got a tube of silver solder and a piece of steel and made an extension for the front sight. I soldered it on then carefully filed it to match. After that I filed it for elevation then cold blued it. Worked pretty good.
If yours is stainless then all you'd need is a piece of steel and the appropriate solder and you're in business.

Joe

[salvo]

Otto, when I replaced the sight on my Bisley Vaquero, I just used a set of pliers, wigled it a bit and pulled it right out of the slot. It appeared to be silver soldered in place.
Mine is stainless and that front silver sight was impossible for me to see. I replaced it with a new dove tailed front sight that I bought from Freedom Arms, it is windage adjustable and I can see it!
Shooting this fixed sight revolver is a pleasure now.

[pokey]

Otto, when I replaced the sight on my Bisley Vaquero, I just used a set of pliers, wigled it a bit and pulled it right out of the slot. It appeared to be silver soldered in place.
Mine is stainless and that front silver sight was impossible for me to see. I replaced it with a new dove tailed front sight that I bought from Freedom Arms, it is windage adjustable and I can see it!
Shooting this fixed sight revolver is a pleasure now.

that looks awful nice. how much clearance is there, between the bottom of the sight and the bore?

[salvo]

pokey, it is a pretty shallow dove tail .060"
The barrel wall is .155" thick.
Here is a wright up on GunBlast regarding the sight blade.
http://www.gunblast.com/Freedom_NewSight.htm

Here is my wright up on the Ruger Tune Up.
http://levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic ... er+Tune+Up

[madman4570]

Salvo---------------------Think you've got the winner there!
And it can be had with several various heights that can be simply switched!
Cool

[Rustolium]

Otto, when I replaced the sight on my Bisley Vaquero, I just used a set of pliers, wigled it a bit and pulled it right out of the slot. It appeared to be silver soldered in place.
Mine is stainless and that front silver sight was impossible for me to see. I replaced it with a new dove tailed front sight that I bought from Freedom Arms, it is windage adjustable and I can see it!
Shooting this fixed sight revolver is a pleasure now.

I like that!

[kimwcook]

I was going to suggest getting a hold of Scott, but he took care of that. Again, nice sight Scott.

[salvo]

Thanks! I was just shooting this gun over the July 4th weekend. It's becoming a favorite and the front sight is the reason, well a good part of the reason. Being able to see the sights is like night and day.

[KCSO]

I used a Marbles gold bead, the 34 W and it worked just fine.