Front sight on a Pietta Navy, is it just a press fit?

[Old-Duckman]

Mine looks to be a piece of brass rod tapered near the end, 0.110” diameter.

I haven’t shot it yet but from reading it seems like they all shoot higher and could use a higher front sight. I don’t see any evidence of solder so I’m assuming that it is just press fit.

TIA

 

[hawkeye2]

It may be threaded. Grab it with a pair of visegrips and try to unscrew it first. If it unscrews and you can identify the threads (metric) you can thread a piece of rod and cut it off where need it sight it in. The front sight on my Rogers & Spencer was threaded and I made a replacement from a hunk of brazing rod.

 

[64Springer]

These aren't target pistols.

Adjust your point to aim to make the bullets go where you want them to.

The vertical version of Kentucky Windage.

 

[Old-Duckman]

These aren't target pistols.

Adjust your point to aim to make the bullets go where you want them to.

The horizontal version of Kentucky Windage.

If it’s a simple fix…which this would be, why live with sights that aren’t right?

 

[Ed C.]

I did replace the front sight on mine. Turned out to be more of a job than I thought. In trying to remove the original bead (it was not soldered), I broke it off. So then went to drill it out planning on drilling a blind hole. But ended up drilling through into the barrel. Using my drill as a lathe I was able to file and sand a brass screw into a post which I soldered into place. Cleaned up the barrel so every thing was flush again and filed down the post as necessary to get point of aim at 50 feet. Very accurate now and my favorite BP revolver to shoot unless I just want fire 'n smoke, then the Walker. Sorry the photo will only come up as an attachment. PS It was pressed in, not threaded on my gun.

 

[Old-Duckman]

So then went to drill it out planning on drilling a blind hole. But ended up drilling through into the barrel.

Oh no...that is everyone's fear when drilling holes for sights. Don't feel too bad, I had a friend who was a machinist for a living and he drilled thru to the bore on a TC contender barrel that he was mounting a front sight on. It happens!

 

[Ed C.]

Oh no...that is everyone's fear when drilling holes for sights. Don't feel too bad, I had a friend who was a machinist for a living and he drilled thru to the bore on a TC contender barrel that he was mounting a front sight on. It happens!

My first thought was, Oh no, I just killed my gun! But it all worked out ok.

 

[nkbj]

Or learn to hit 1950's TV style without using the sights.

 

[bang]

I figure when these and other arms were in their hay day the situations they we're used was not in a ready aim manor.
Also the components were not cheap for the average user. I can see a person shooting just enough to know how accurate it is in point and shoot. I would think even 25 yards would be called a very long shot given the desperation of the situation.
A pistol/revolver use would be at a near minimum of distance according to the shooter's ability.
I think what is done with them nowadays does not reflect the use intent of back then.
An 80 yard shot with BP? Can be done. But what does it take to make it? I wouldn't even attempt without a platform and time to aquire targeting. Would do same with an unmentionable and have out as far as 85 yards on a hog.