Ruger OM Blackhawk front sight

[Joey]

I just bought an OM BH .357 with an optic insert front sight. Don't know if that is the correct description. The insert is missing. Did Ruger make the OM with this sight, or was it milled in by a previous owner? Does anyone know where I can get the insert? The friend I bought it from said it had a green insert that fell out, and he doesn't know what happened to it. He is not the original owner. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[G2]

Ruger never did inserts.

This was a common practice of gunsmiths of the day.

A "liquid" kit was most likely what was used.

I have also seen a chunk of Silver &/or Brass fitted.

Many just have the gunsmith mill it off now, have a plunge cut, and replace it with all sorts of custom blades.

But a quick google search turned up this kit. Looks like a nice kit and what most of the S&W enthusiasts use.

No idea if there is something less $$, but it gives you a place to start…

Brownells Front Sight Insert Kit for Revolvers & More

Customize your revolver with the Brownells Front Sight Insert Kit. You can also create or rebuild colored sight inserts for other types of firearms.

tkcustom.com

 

[Joey]

Thanks
Thanks much, Hunter. I think i will try milling a brass insert. May look better on an old model.

 

[G2]

I think the brass inserts are nice looking, take your time with a good file, it will turn out nice.

Here is a interesting Homeboy added brass bead,,, When I bought this old 44 flattop (top gun) the idea was to cut the barrel to a shortie, then I went and shot it,,, it's a real good shooter. So I changed out the rear blade to a peep sight and left it as is. He thinned the Blade then added the brass bead. Not perfect, but good enough, and I like it!!!

 

[Joey]

WOW. Coupla' nice looking revolvers. I like the brass frames. Did they come with them or did you add them? I am thinking about putting a steel frame on mine.
I have some old silver coins that are in bad shape, I was thinking I may try to do something with them for the front sight. Old silver on an old model Blackhawk

 

[contender]

Those brass grip frames are not factory Ruger ones.
But they do look quite nice on them.

 

[Joey]

They look great. I was wondering if he fitted them or if a previous owner did them. Fitting looks fantastic from what I can see.

 

[G2]

The top frame is a Qualite, XR3-RED that I straightened the back strap to closer emulate the XR3, Moose Horn Grips. Qualite frames were all over the place when it came to fitting them up, it usually took a bunch of time & patience.

The bottom frame is a RW Gripframe, It's a "Hunter",,, basically a Super Blackhawk with a rounded trigger guard vs the square back "Dragoon". Again I did straighten the back strap. Lett Super Blackhawk Laminate fitted to the Brass.

Ronnie Wells, aka RW makes absolutely the finest aftermarket parts, they fit very accurate. He does leave a little extra material to dial the frame into the cylinder frame.

Top gun is a 1956 and the bottom gun is a 2006. 50 year commemorative NM. I Super Hammer both. The NM is now a pleasure to shoot,,, even with hot 44 Magnums.

,,, and Yes, I did all the custom work myself.

 

[Joey]

Beautiful work. Glad you decided against cutting the barrel of the OM.

 

[rugerguy]

good luck as most "pressed in " inserts, no matter what th e material can and will shoot loose and fall out.... the ones in the "kits" like done on the S&W usually stay in much better unless they get bumped, knocked out by mishandling......

 

[Randyzzz]

I've found a way of keeping the inserts tight. Drill a pair of 1/16 divots into the flat portion where the new sight material will be poured. It will flow into the divots effectively locking it into place.

 

[Joey]

I've found a way of keeping the inserts tight. Drill a pair of 1/16 divots into the flat portion where the new sight material will be poured. It will flow into the divots effectively locking it into place.

Just got back from the range with it, shoots great. Trigger is smooth, breaks at about 2.5 lbs. I've read about grinding it down, slotting it and pinning a new blade. Just going to leave it as is until I decide what I want to do with it. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[moparclan]

I have a kit I bought in Tucson many years ago, Bullshooters Supply. Did a lot of sight inserts for my dad and my guns, small jeweler file set and some small drill bits. Came with a couple of copper side plates and some alligator clips to hold in place. Never did have one fall out. Still have the kit and can even do glow in the dark inserts with my watch hand Luminous powder. Yours has the hard work already done just need the insert kit.

 

[Joey]

But to buy all that new for one sight seems counter-productive. I watched a video by Larry at Midway, seems pretty straight forward. Was just cruising GB and saw a .41 mag OM with a red insert. Apparently as Hunter said in an earlier reply, they used to do this some on the OM.

 

[rugerguy]

Like Randy notes above, that is an added bonus to the red ramps that are "poured" , we too did this many years ago as an improvement and we too never had any "fall out" and back then we used a product called Lees Red Ramps. alas ,long gone but the blaze orange paint or powder ,mixed in with five minute epoxy does the trick..
seen some done with J-B Weld but you have to darken the mix or its too lightly colored........

 

[Joey]

I have used a bunch of epoxy, used to build and fly radio control planes begore my eyesight decided to take leave.
What kind of orange paint or powder are you referring to?

 

[Hondo44]

They look great. I was wondering if he fitted them or if a previous owner did them. Fitting looks fantastic from what I can see.

A Ruger stainless Old Army grip frame will bolt right on to your old model. Fit and polish it for a great look that won't tarnish.

 

[Joey]

I have an OM BH .41 mag at Ruger having some work done on it. I asked them if they could fit a steel frame while they had it apart. They said not on the OM, so I took that to mean they didn't make a frame for them any longer. Gonna call Powers tomorrow, see if they still make them in either steel or stainless. Can't find them on their web site. Thanks much, Hondo.

 

[contender]

Ronnie Wells grip frames. Forget Powers!!!!

 

[Hondo44]

There are many Old Army grip frames blue steel and stainless around, even brand new ones. Check Brownells, Midway, the classifieds on this forum, and Gunbroker. They have a wide trigger slot but your skinny trigger will work. Or also search for the Old Army or old model SBH wide trigger. Ruger parts are much cheaper than then the custom grip frames.

Once you find one you can send it to Ruger for installation on your gun.

Also it's pretty simple to adapt new model grip frames to old models although Ruger won't do that. We can explain how, no machining needed. Just a fired .22 LR case.