Navy 1851 front sight

[Fly]

Do any of you guys know how tall the front sight is from the
barrel on a Navy colt.The reason I ask is I shorten the barrel
on one for a belly gun.

I,m going to dove tail the front sight.But now I can't find the
barrel I cut off with the sight on it.I need to know, for a guideline.

Fly
l

[Beagle333]

I don't know offhand.... but I'll measure it when I get home this evening if nobody has replied on it by then.

[docone31]

The darn thing shoots high anyway, so, I might consider going taller anyway. Mine is an 1/8th high, a 32higher might be inorder, especialy for a belly gun.You could rivet in a brass rod, and file to fit.Lots of barrel to dovetail though.

[docone31]

Blind riveting should be easy also.

[Fly]

Blind riveting should be easy also.

Ya but the dove tail can be adjusted for windage, not that a belly gun needs it.
But I have a mill & dovetail cutters so I might as well.
Thanks Fly

[docone31]

I like the Navy also. Did you do the mods to bring it to "normal"? The frame reshape, opening the notch in the hammer, The hammer stop, stuff like that? I did all that, and it is one slick handling pistol. I go to the range with them, and folks like to watch them fire. I found, mine with a 5" Barrel, shoots better than with the 7 1/2. Polished forcing cone, new front sight, it is a winner.

[Fly]

Well I,m a machinist but not a gunsmith.I know some but don't know about the hammer stop.
Can you exsplain?

Fly

[docone31]

The hammer stop, is in the frame. It prevents the hammer from going too far back. Stops it the same place every time. I did not notice any difference, but, it felt like I accomplished something.A little here, a little there. I like my Navy(s).

[Beagle333]

Mine is .120 (or practically 1/8") as well. 8-)

[bedbugbilly]

I have shot Navies for years and owned a number of them. Over the years, I've seen a number of original that have had a dovetailed front sight installed on them by their owners . . . even our ancestors knew that the front sight needed to be taller!

[Omnivore]

The taller front sight I put on my '51 is .195" above the barrel flat, and that gun still shoots about 2" high at 25 yards. Your mileage may vary of course. It's easy enough to start tall and file it down to zero.