Post by johnm on May 26, 2010 8:15:21 GMT -5
forum.usfirearms.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=260
The topic has been on my mind for some years, as my 63-year old eyes just aren't what they were, for a razor-sharp sight picture. One of my real joys with a good revolver is long-range plinking, where there is space and a readily observable impact area. Also, I like the paper game of 'put another bullet in same hole as the one you just made'.
Some years ago, a friend and I bought Rodeos from the first all-USA made batch. My 4 3/4" has seen many rounds go down that range, but one of the first mods i made was to file a slight 45degree angle to the back of front blade and serrate it. Because USFA make historically correct items, I certainly don't think they should do that -- BUT....
There is a market opportunity here for the company. On the single-action and other boards where-in dwell national level sixgun gurus, a frequent member's plaint is the same one as mine: "I can't see the bloddy sights anymore!" Now, how can USFA profit from that problem,
given the very handy and well-regarded sixguns they offer?
Well, that requires a little homework, going back to the days when six-gunners began to demand better sights than the one's that were 'factory'. The literature from the 1920's and 30's has considerable information about the gunsmith upgrades being done for the lawmen and gunwriters of the time.
The simplest one, and the easiest for USFA to implement, is to install a front blade option using the famous Colt's 'sharktooth' blade. This configuration especially shows up in pictures of LEO and private security agents 'pocket' SAA's. With or without ejector rods, quite a few of those short-bbl'd li'll poppers are pictured with a variety of sight modifications, in the early decades of the 20th century.
If one sits down with a micrometer and a batch of DA Colts, one will find that shark-tooth blade to be substantially thick, on into mid-century and even later, on fixed sight guns. They help provide a snag-proof near-Patridge blade sight picture. The rear notch, of course, needs to be opened commensurately. The Key to Success is to get the dimensions right so's all us fading-accomodation gray-hairs can SEE THE SIGHTS.
Now, the second sight option that is just waiting to be picked up is the King Gun Sight patents. If you are unfamiliar with King Gun sights get the February, 2010 [volume 45, number 1] issue of "Handloader Magazine". Charles Petty's article on the subject should be food for thought to anyone servicing the SAA revolver industry. The potential to provide a quality after-market, adjustable sight, that can be very easily be installed on fixed sight revolvers is evident.
If it isn't clear to you,then ya better go do some 'Net reading and research on BB's and Blogs, because there are on Helluva-lot-uv folks out there griping about sights and vision. The King Sights easily present an opportunity for a business with auto-machining capabilities. I researched the patents and sent them around to some machinist friends, who stated that there was nothing complex about the milling. A good small shop could churn them out,no probs, brutha.
If one is NOT reading John Taffin, Brian Pearce, and other quality writers in good, technically oriented publications, or on-line, one can miss the development of trends, or potential for same. When I read the "King" article, it rang my personal bell for this reason: my trusty Rodeo has no problem landing a 270SAA or a Keith {that's pronounced Keeth ;~`)]slug on a ten-inch plate at 300 yards. But I do, lately. Put that wonderful King set-up on the Rodeo, tho, and while it sure won't cure aging eyes, it'll give'em a lot more with which to aim accurately.
And...USFA's sixguns DESERVE good sights. They have the inherent precision and attention to fit and finish that insure good accuracy potential rivaling the fine quality of custom gunsmiths, for a working man's price. The market and the knowledgeable writers to enlighten it are already in place. Someone will eventually step up to the plate and hit a home-run. When that happens, I'd hope it'd be a USFA factory option.
The topic has been on my mind for some years, as my 63-year old eyes just aren't what they were, for a razor-sharp sight picture. One of my real joys with a good revolver is long-range plinking, where there is space and a readily observable impact area. Also, I like the paper game of 'put another bullet in same hole as the one you just made'.
Some years ago, a friend and I bought Rodeos from the first all-USA made batch. My 4 3/4" has seen many rounds go down that range, but one of the first mods i made was to file a slight 45degree angle to the back of front blade and serrate it. Because USFA make historically correct items, I certainly don't think they should do that -- BUT....
There is a market opportunity here for the company. On the single-action and other boards where-in dwell national level sixgun gurus, a frequent member's plaint is the same one as mine: "I can't see the bloddy sights anymore!" Now, how can USFA profit from that problem,
given the very handy and well-regarded sixguns they offer?
Well, that requires a little homework, going back to the days when six-gunners began to demand better sights than the one's that were 'factory'. The literature from the 1920's and 30's has considerable information about the gunsmith upgrades being done for the lawmen and gunwriters of the time.
The simplest one, and the easiest for USFA to implement, is to install a front blade option using the famous Colt's 'sharktooth' blade. This configuration especially shows up in pictures of LEO and private security agents 'pocket' SAA's. With or without ejector rods, quite a few of those short-bbl'd li'll poppers are pictured with a variety of sight modifications, in the early decades of the 20th century.
If one sits down with a micrometer and a batch of DA Colts, one will find that shark-tooth blade to be substantially thick, on into mid-century and even later, on fixed sight guns. They help provide a snag-proof near-Patridge blade sight picture. The rear notch, of course, needs to be opened commensurately. The Key to Success is to get the dimensions right so's all us fading-accomodation gray-hairs can SEE THE SIGHTS.
Now, the second sight option that is just waiting to be picked up is the King Gun Sight patents. If you are unfamiliar with King Gun sights get the February, 2010 [volume 45, number 1] issue of "Handloader Magazine". Charles Petty's article on the subject should be food for thought to anyone servicing the SAA revolver industry. The potential to provide a quality after-market, adjustable sight, that can be very easily be installed on fixed sight revolvers is evident.
If it isn't clear to you,then ya better go do some 'Net reading and research on BB's and Blogs, because there are on Helluva-lot-uv folks out there griping about sights and vision. The King Sights easily present an opportunity for a business with auto-machining capabilities. I researched the patents and sent them around to some machinist friends, who stated that there was nothing complex about the milling. A good small shop could churn them out,no probs, brutha.
If one is NOT reading John Taffin, Brian Pearce, and other quality writers in good, technically oriented publications, or on-line, one can miss the development of trends, or potential for same. When I read the "King" article, it rang my personal bell for this reason: my trusty Rodeo has no problem landing a 270SAA or a Keith {that's pronounced Keeth ;~`)]slug on a ten-inch plate at 300 yards. But I do, lately. Put that wonderful King set-up on the Rodeo, tho, and while it sure won't cure aging eyes, it'll give'em a lot more with which to aim accurately.
And...USFA's sixguns DESERVE good sights. They have the inherent precision and attention to fit and finish that insure good accuracy potential rivaling the fine quality of custom gunsmiths, for a working man's price. The market and the knowledgeable writers to enlighten it are already in place. Someone will eventually step up to the plate and hit a home-run. When that happens, I'd hope it'd be a USFA factory option.
A real Goshen Hexsite for Glocks or whatever will fit in a standard holster.
