Fixing a Front Sight on a 1873

[joachim slim]

I am thinking about buying this revolver. But only if the front sight can be repaired without messing up the rest of the barrel. Can it brazed or wire welded? Any suggestions or should I just stay away from it?

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

If you braze or weld it the heat and flux will damage the bluing.  I would put on a glue on solid brass front sight like this one.

 

https://www.yankmachain.com/products/uberti-pietta-brass-sights-tall-one-not-a-pair

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Low temperature silver solder should work and not damage the finish.

Personally, I wouldn't buy it! 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Low temp silver solder still requires flux.  Flux removes blue.

[joachim slim]

22 minutes ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

If you braze or weld it the heat and flux will damage the bluing.  I would put on a glue on solid brass front sight like this one.

 

https://www.yankmachain.com/products/uberti-pietta-brass-sights-tall-one-not-a-pair

Do you think there is enough front sight left to attach thses?

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

It is hard to tell from the photo.  Does not look like a lot of the sight is left.  Wonder why it was cut so low?

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Not part of the original question, but that is an "early" BP replica frame and has the wrong retaining screw for the Cylinder Base Pin.  The screw shown is a factory "assembly Screw" and should have been replaced with the correct flush to the frame screw.  Think I'd suggest pass unless it's a smokin low price, and eve then, nah.  I'd pass. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Low temp silver solder still requires flux.  Flux removes blue.

Yes, it can. I have used the Brownells solder with good outcome.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Brownell's Low Temp Hi-Force 44 is pretty much all I use.  It is the Comet Flux you have to watch out for.

Edited April 7 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933

[joachim slim]

After thinking on it I will pass on this revolver.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Silver solder ! 

 

If the blueing is damaged at all just touch it up with cold blue .

 

Nothing at all hard about this kind of repair .

This is a beginners repair job .

[Sedalia Dave]

22 minutes ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

Silver solder ! 

 

If the blueing is damaged at all just touch it up with cold blue .

 

Nothing at all hard about this kind of repair .

This is a beginners repair job .

 

 Getting the blueing to match is definitely not a beginner’s job. 

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

I had a set that were like that , carried em to a master gunsmith with a set of blades 

 

  about 2 days later , I was told to come get em 

 

  He was out of the gdod pastries , I had brought when I dropped em off 

 

  CB 

 

  silver soldered with Hi force 444 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

34 minutes ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

If the blueing is damaged at all just touch it up with cold blue .

 

DEPENDS!!!!

 

11 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

Getting the blueing to match is definitely not a beginner’s job. 

100% correct.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

16 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

 

DEPENDS!!!!

 

100% correct.

Its not so hard to not try 

[OnTarget Sights]

There wasn't enough sight left to hold my sights on.

[Three Foot Johnson]

It was shooting high and somebody told him to file the front sight down til it hit where he wanted it. Or he was Elmer Keithing it to hit rabbits at 400 yards. Often, maybe always, those blades are also crimped, in addition to being soldered, and can be a real bear to get out. For $150 or so, I'd jump on it. At $150 - $250, maybe. More than that, I'd pass.

[Bailey Creek,5759]

I purchased a revolver that someone filed the sight down.

I took it to someone who dovetailed the existing sight.

Cut a piece of steel with the same cut. Slid them together.

Measured a different revolver for the correct Hight. Can't tell anything was done to it.