Improving the Navy 51.

[doublesnider]

I love my 51 Navy but would like to improve it.

It shoots 10” high.
How can I replace the front sight?
Is it press fit of screwed?
Is there any “traditional” better sighting system?
I saw a revolver with back sight on the barrel but I do not remember if it was a 51.

Thanks
Martin

 

[pargent]

I have another solution , lower the rear sight notch using a REMGRIT rope type hacksaw blade.The REMGRITwillcut down the grove eaven if the hammer is case hardened.

 

[Leatherbark]

If your 51 is a Pietta, the front sight is pressed in. Grasp it with pliers and pluck it out. If its an older one or a Armi San Marco it may be screwed in. The pressed in ones are the easiest to replace with a taller one made from a brass pin or brazing rod. Bob

 

[madcratebuilder]

This is a period sight on a Colt dragoon. It would be easy mad but finding this sight is the fly in the ointment.

The original Colts were set at 75yds, this had carried over to the replicas. A taller front post, deeper notch in the hammer, less powder charge, Kentucky windage.

 

[nkbj]

Very nice sight. Wow, what a treasure.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

It's no big deal to dovetail the barrel for a rear sight but then you will need an even taller front sight. I replaced the front sight on my Navy with a pin of brazing rod and after opening up the hammer notch it gives a very decent sight picture, 1 1/2" groups for five shots is the norm for that revolver.

 

[pargent]

I to have made and fitted a taller front sight from brazingrod,I found the taller sight to drag abit on holsters and looked slightly out of sorts thats why I went to cutting a deaper hammer notch.Either way works.

 

[brubincam]

-----how does a 51 look with a dovetail blade-----

 

[doublesnider]

Thank for your answers.
I tryed to file the hammer notch with no succes I will try the dremmel tomorrow.
Thanks
Martin

 

[HatchetJaque]

The hammer is hardened. You'll need a diamond file to shape it. They can be ordered from MSC, the good ones are about $25 a pop. I'd discourage you from taking the Dremel to your pistol, too easy to loose control and mess stuff up!

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I'd discourage you from taking the Dremel to your pistol, too easy to loose control and mess stuff up!

Very true! I've gotten good results using one of the little cut-off wheels on hammer notches but it does require great care, it can get away from you in a split second.
I don't care for the sight picture presented by that tapered bead on the Navy even if the elevation were correct. The pin doesn't have to be half an inch tall, mine measures only .166" above the barrel flat. I've never found that to be a problem with holsters.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Here's a photo which shows my modified sights.

Of course the hammer notch appears a lot wider than the front post because it's closer to the camera, at arms length the proportions are about right. You may also notice that I cut the hammer notch a bit off-center to the right to correct for shooting a bit left as delivered, she now throws center.

 

[pargent]

Read my first reply :grin:

 

[Tinker2]

-----how does a 51 look with a dovetail blade-----

This was a 1851 It has a blade front sight and a rear sight on the barrel.

Tinker2

 

[Tinker2]

This is a period sight on a Colt dragoon. It would be easy mad but finding this sight is the fly in the ointment.

The original Colts were set at 75yds, this had carried over to the replicas. A taller front post, deeper notch in the hammer, less powder charge, Kentucky windage.

Madcratebuilder

Nice sight, can you post a side view?

What are they regulated to?



Thank
Tinker2

 

[Chilidog]

-----how does a 51 look with a dovetail blade-----

This was a 1851 It has a blade front sight and a rear sight on the barrel.

Tinker2

That's a sweet conversion and those grips really stand out. What are they made of?

 

[madcratebuilder]

Here's the same style sight on a ASM Dragoon that was marketed with a shoulder stock. You have both blades down, then the two different blade heights. I have not fired this revolver yet but I'm thinking it's in the 50/75/100 yard area. To bad you could not order this sight from ASM. I have found this style of sight (Gunworks) but it's made for a rifle and about 50-75% larger.

 

[Tinker2]

-----how does a 51 look with a dovetail blade-----

This was a 1851 It has a blade front sight and a rear sight on the barrel.

Tinker2

Tinker2
That's a sweet conversion and those grips really stand out. What are they made of?

Thanks, Bronze I think, or brass maybe. It is a old gun, not a reproduction.



Tinker2

 

[Tinker2]

Here's the same style sight on a ASM Dragoon that was marketed with a shoulder stock. You have both blades down, then the two different blade heights. I have not fired this revolver yet but I'm thinking it's in the 50/75/100 yard area. To bad you could not order this sight from ASM. I have found this style of sight (Gunworks) but it's made for a rifle and about 50-75% larger.

Madcratebuilder

Thanks for posting that.



Tinker2