In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

S&W Model 28-2

DrSteve51DrSteve51 Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
edited October 2010 in Ask the Experts
I have an old Smith and Wesson Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman. I would like to get the orange insert on the front sight. Can I get this or do I just paint the front sight orange. Any help would be appricianted.

Comments

  • DrSteve51DrSteve51 Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    A friend dropped off his S&W Model 28-2 s/n S2759XX, marked .357 Highway Patrolman. It is polished Nickel and has a 4" barrel with adj rear sight and wood stocks, easily 98% or better. Do any of you S&W folks know approx age and value? I'm an auto man and don't know much about revolver values.
    It also has a bit of a problem, fires double action just fine but when pulling the hammer back to fire single action the hammer just drops, won't lock back. I haven't disassembled the pistol yet so don't know the problem. Can anyone give me some pointers to look for to correct this problem? Thanks, Mark
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,885 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Any competent gunsmith can replace your Baughman front sight with one that accepts the colored inserts. Brownells sells pieces of different color sight inserts, & the gunsmith just cuts off a small piece & glues it in place.

    If your gun is anywhere close to "collectible", you may want to hang on to the original front sight in case you ever want to sell the gun.

    Neal
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you just want a temporary fix that won't affect the collectors value of your Model 28, and the cost a gunsmith would charge? Buy a plastic bottle of Neon Orange, Acrylic Paint in your local Walmarts crafts department. It only $2 or $3. Apply it to the front sight with a toothpick. It's quite durable stuff and won't wear off easily. Makes the front sight really stand out and easy to see. I have been using the same small bottle for years now, it lasts forever.
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wow. Took the words right out of my mouth. (How unsanitary!) [:D]
    I have been a faithful user of the dayglo craft paint from Walmart for several years also. You can get it in many colors, depending on the contrast you want with the target. That little bottle will probably outlive me, since I use only about a half a drop at a time. It takes only about a minute to dry. If I am at the range, sans toothpick, and need a touch up, a tiny piece of twig works fine. It is great for NOT damaging the collector value and can be peeled off with your fingernails or a damp toothbrush.
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by andrewsw16
    Wow. Took the words right out of my mouth. (How unsanitary!) [:D]
    I have been a faithful user of the dayglo craft paint from Walmart for several years also. You can get it in many colors, depending on the contrast you want with the target. That little bottle will probably outlive me, since I use only about a half a drop at a time. It takes only about a minute to dry. If I am at the range, sans toothpick, and need a touch up, a tiny piece of twig works fine. It is great for NOT damaging the collector value and can be peeled off with your fingernails or a damp toothbrush.



    I'm not sure if the kind that I use is the same stuff. It don't come off easily. To get the front sight completely clean I have to scrub it with a G.I. toothbrush soaked in the medicinal alcohol that they sell in the drug department.
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    +1 to acrylic paint. Cheap. . .easy. . .fast. . .effective.

    I usually paint my front sights with some bright red nail polish I got from the clearance bin of a pharmacy for $1 about 6 years ago. (The fact that I'm using the same bottle for 6 years says something).

    Seems to last a good long time under normal use, and if I decide I don't like it, I can remove it easily in 2 seconds with nail polish remover.

    Only trick in application is to put it on in a thin coat (so it doesn't drip or smudge) and wait a few minutes to dry. Usually two coats work well.

    Note that its is *possible* to actually put in a front sight insert by yourself, though personally I wouldn't bother.

    Here's a video making it seem easy:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiO2-ekNnaU

    And here's an expensive kit you can use to get the same result:
    http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=22791/Product/FRONT_SIGHT_INSERT_KIT
  • andrewsw16andrewsw16 Member Posts: 10,728 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here is the day-glo Neon paint I use that I got from the Walmart arts and crafts department. They have several of these very visible colors so you can change your sights to contrast with the background. I don't know if this is what others are using, but this seems to dry with a bit of a rubbery or plastic texture that I can peel off with my fingernails. This little 2 oz bottle will last forever. I can even be charitable at the range and let others use it.

    Pa060054.jpg
  • DrSteve51DrSteve51 Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys, this has been very helpful.
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you put it on over a white base coat, it will be brighter.
    I use Model Master Fluorescent Red over white. It has an orange tint that I like.

    I have dabbed it on with a toothpick but I got better results when I got the smallest brush they had and clipped the bristles off to about half length.
  • john wjohn w Member Posts: 4,104
    edited November -1
    Go pick out an orange toothbrush and cut an insert from that or as said brownells sells the insert material.
  • RCrosbyRCrosby Member Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a front sight with ramp that might fit your 28. Started life as a Patridge and was cut to standard Baughman (sp?) profile and a red plastic insert added. Very nicely done.
    Yours for the asking if it will fit and you can use it.
    Email me if you're interested.
    p.s. Came off my early M.24 .44 Special. I can send close up pictures if that will help.
Sign In or Register to comment.