BH front sight

[Swamp Rat]

I want to change my front sight out to a setup similar to the one in the pic below where the blade is pinned to the base and can change height/style. If I were to call ruger what exactly is it that I would ask for? I want to put it on a blued Blackhawk.

I am presuming that when the new base is sweated on it would require rebluing. Would it be easier to cut the blade off my current sight and use the approprate keyway cutter for the groove and crossdrill for the pin myself?

Opinions/advice?

TIA

 

[texaswheelgunner]

If you have the tools and the know how, it'd be good if you could do just that......mill off the orginal front blade, mill a slot for the new blade, and drill the base for the pin. I don't think Ruger would do that....they would just want to replace the base and the blade as a unit and you'd end up with what you have now.

I have heard that orignial base is hard to drill through really straight.....but that's only what I've heard. Anyway, seems like if you just take your time, you'll be ok.

 

[flatgate]

Hamilton Bowen, Gunsmith Extraordinaire has you covered.

Click Here for his Front Sight web page.

One needs access to a Milling Machine to do the job, though. Mill off the old sight blade then plunge cut a slot in the sight base. Bowen's sight has a round profile so it'll fit in such a cut. Turn gun 90° and drill the "roll pin" hole.

flatgate

 

[rugerguy]

yep, good "equipment" and accurate measurement, can and will get the job done..........and yes to answer your second question, if you heat up, remove and sweat -on another base, on a "blued" gun, just may cause discoloration and the need for a refinish...we've seen some use 'low temp' solders and not cause this discoloration, but as they say "$hit happens..." and my Uncle Murphy was an "optimist"........