Ruger Rear Sight Blades

[LeverGunner]

My New Model Flattop Blackhawk 44 special came with a rear sight blade that had a .115 wide notch. I couldn't see it unless I was in bright light, and even then it was a strain. Well, to be more correct, i couldn't see a bar of light on either side of the front sight blade. I have a spare .125 blade in my stash so I put that on, and it helped quite a bit. I did some research and found that Ruger made a rear sight with a .140 wide notch.  So I took my .115 notched blade and opened it up to .140, and that is much easier to see. 

I also have lowered the sight blade some by removing material from the bottom of the "ears".  There is room to do this, and this compensates for the front sight needing to be a hair taller.  What i'll eventually do is have my gun sent off for work including new front sight, but for now, I'm in business. 


Is there anyone that makes replacement rear sight blades? Is it common for folks to modify their blades like I have, or does everyone just replace with their rear sights with Bowen sights?

[Encore64]

Check Ebay. It's usually a huge assortment of replacement blades on there...

[LeverGunner]

I just checked ebay, and it's not overrun with results. Some vintage stuff, and the standard replacement sight blades.

Don't get me wrong, Im not super unhappy with the standard sights, Im just investigating my options.

[Encore64]

Ok, I just did a search and came up with 10 or 11 options. Three different heights and four different notch widths...

[pattontime]

Another option for rear sights is to buy a BFR rear sight, it is made by LPA & cost me $28.00 the last time I bought some, I really like them on my Rugers, not exactly a Bowen but a better sight than Factory Ruger rear sights for me anyway.
They are sold on the Kahr Firearms Shop page, Kahr being the parent company of Magnum Research which is the company that makes the BFR

[LeverGunner]

Thanks. I wasn't aware of the BFR option.

[lar4570]

shopkahrfirearmsgroup.com/sights/magnum-research-bfr-factory-rear-sight-bfr1019as.asp

[lar4570]

They are a little bit bigger than the Ruger rear sight.

[potatojudge]

I swear BFR engineers look at Rugers and say "how can we make this bigger and uglier?"

[LeverGunner]

Thanks Lar. Hmm I don't like how much it obtrudes the hammer. It is still definitely something good to know about though.

[messybear]

If you notice on the LPA sight, the notch is deeper so it leaves a little room for trimming the top of sight if one wants to. They are pretty well made for the cost