Pietta 51 navy front sight

[bear tooth billy]

Does anyone know if there is a larger front sight available for the Pietta 51 navy.
I have a Kirst conversion and am loading heeled bullets in it, it shoots well, but
that little teeny front sight. I'm planning on shooting in NCOWS original class
and may use that setup, but am wondering if there is a bigger sight available
or one that would fit on top of that.  Thanks

                            BTB

[Fingers McGee]

You can try an R&S front sight from S&S Firearms; or, make your own from 1/8 inch brazing rod turned in a Dremel.  Pop out the old  one and red Loctite the new one in.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Gabrial Law made a small dovetail sight for my '51, and then a pair to resight my '51 Richards Navys.

[Advertising]

[Professor Marvel]

theres a bunch to choose from at TOTW
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/874/1?PageSize=100


I like to use these, I try to keep a half dozen on hand:


https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/874/1/FS-CA-1I

yhs
prof marvel

[bear tooth billy]

Mine does not have a dovetail cut in. I suppose I could have a smith cut one in,
don't know if that would be legal for the originals class


                                             BTB

[Major 2]

There is an Engraved Presentation Model 1851 Navy with a dove tail front sight pictured on pg. 112 of "Samuel Colt Presents" by R.L. Wilson. 

Colt offered factory target sights dove tailed in .....

If'n it were me I'd Defarb it as well,

[hellgate]

See attached pic. I just remove the original and epoxy a shaped, inverted small brass screw as a new sight. Fingers' idea is a better one though.

[bear tooth billy]

I ordered a .170" shotgun bead sight from brownells. I already have the drill and tap for the 6-48 thread,
I'll try that and see how it works, before I go to the expense of having a dove tail cut.  Thanks



                                 BTB

[Navy Six]

Like Fingers said, see if S&S still has any Rogers & Spencer front sights left in stock. They are the same basic profile but much taller. I put one in a Pietta 51 Navy about 20 years ago and after a bit of shaping/filing, its been there ever since.

[Blair]

The R&S front sight is a good option for a taller sight.
Keep in mind that the '51's were made by many companies for around 50 years or so and the threads may not be the same for the Euroarms made R&S revolvers.
The 1/8 inch brass rod is your next best option. Your can turn this down and thread to what ever those metric threads might be?
Last suggestion would be to set up a dovetail front sight. I have seen these most often on original revolvers that have had their bbl.'s shortened from the standard length.
I have always made my own dovetailed front sights. Cutting by hand and starting with a 3/8th inch square bar stock.
This can be time consuming in the layout and cutting then in filing to fit the dovetails. But, for me, it has been very enjoyable work and quite satisfying when it all comes together.
Hope this helps?
My best,
 Blair

[Jubal Starbuck]

     I filed a dovetail in mine and inserted a Remington front sight from Dixie Gun Works in it several years ago and its held up just fine for me.  I don't know whether its allowable under the rules for the Originals class though.  It does enable me to shoot "minute of beer can" with it when I do my part and the moon and the stars are aligned correctly.
 

[44caliberkid]

I have used brass rod and brass screw. I pound the top end flat to make more of a blade. I also made one from a dime. I used a hacksaw to cut the top third off the dime (in a vise) leaving a little stud of metal to screw or pound into the hole vacated by the old sight. It looked nice and had enough extra material to file the top down to match my load. I used to have a pic but it was in my old desktop that bit the dust years ago.

[bear tooth billy]

I shot a NCOWS match with the Pietta and Uberti, with the new front bead and wider notch on the hammer
worked great. I hit all the targets with both guns, practicing at paper they both shoot about a 3" group one
handed at 10 yds, which is good for me. I used red (permanent) permatex so hopefully they will stay in place



                               BTB

[Montana Slim]

Red Locktite should be more/less permanent. Glad your approach worked out. 

Ummm....I've been in-process of tuning a Pietta Spiller & Burr (among other projects)...Finally working on the sights.... it shot four feet high with the stock sight/sight groove...so it needed a taller sight. yanked out the old one (pliers) & found some small brass rod in my pile of curious wonders. Cut off a suitable length- guesstimate. Then chucked into my poor-man's lathe (electric, adj. speed drill), I proceeded to work the diameter down with file & emory paper. test fit...no...work it some more. . YES...When it was "just right"..I put a slight chamfer/radius on the end to go into the hole in the barrel. Tap-tap-tap with my small ball-peen & voila! Front sight. Made for a tight press fit (ain't coming out on accident).

Only bad news in the story is that I did not determine the exact correct front sight height first. I have not test shot the gun yet...I know it will be an improvement. But perhaps not perfection. The replacement sight is over double the original...might look odd if I make any taller, so here's hopin'.

Anyway, I started making this part really to see if I could do it & I did.

My sight ended up looking like an extra tall version of the factory sight.

BTW, Montana Slim's PROPER method is to make an improvised front blade or post of extreme height and then work it down. I use CARDSTOCK or even CARDBOARD. Then secure it to the pistol (rifle, etc.) using duct or masking tape. take to the range & fire away. I use scissors to make adjustments after each shot until I have it where I want it.
Done this many times & it's a sure neat trick.

BTB...Might bring your modified pistol to the Buffalo shoot fer show-n-tell...In case I make this year 
If I do, I'll bring some look-sees, too.

Regards,
Slim

[john boy]

 ... 1852 story: So this cowboy walks into the General Store all dressed to the nines and wearing a hat that never saw dust and says - Gee, the Colt revolver is a sweet looking gun. I 'll buy it.  Bought some caps, powder and balls and went out behind the horse stable to try it out.  Shot a cylinder and couldn't hit a bull in the ass.  In discus, went back to store keeper and moaned - I can't aim the revolver with this tiny brass bead front sight.  have any other front sights so I can aim better?  Storekeeper replies ...Your a for real Cowboy, aren't you?  - Live with it or wait until Remington might come out with a different front sight.  Now - go out behind the stable and and practice some more. You'll get better or still won't be able to hit anything - Good Luck

[Montana Slim]

chuckle mode on....but yet a very true Story....

...Montana Slim meets cowboy carrying a Colt 1860 at saloon (or maybe it was a gunshow?), buys it for half price... cause cowboy can't shoot true with it (& he needs more money for beer?). Montana Slim takes used shooter to NCOWS Nationals, win Pistoleer class with discounted, used revolver & also shoot clean match. Targets spread out a mite & varying distances...noo, you can't hit any of em with spit...Almost like real opponents in a mock shootout (opposed to dumb opponents who stand lined up & really close). Way more fun when you hit a somewhat challenging target...& not big disappointment to miss a target, cause they're not "easy".

As usual, I stretched the truth.... there was no alcohol involved. 
Well, maybe around the campfire.

Slim

Oh, I do have two revolvers with replacement front sights, one is the Spiller & Burr, the other a pocket Remington 1863.

[treebeard]

I do not know if it is still on display at the old capital museum in Jackson, Mississippi but there was an original 1851 Colt Navy . It had been modified with dovetailed front and rear sights.  Apparently the young officer in a Mississippi unit in the ANV wanted to increase his hit possibilities. I have seen a couple other period modifications but do not now recall the museums.