S&W Model 642-1 Front Sight

Rick_S · January 14, 2011, 05:34 PM

I just bought a used 642-1 no ILS. It is my first real snubby. I had a 2 inch model 10 that was really great - but I digress.

1. It looks as if the front sight and ramp are removable in some way. When I look at it carefully, I can see a small line around the ramp and sight. Can it be removed? Can night sights be put on it like the 640 Pro?

2. Trigger pull, while smooth and crisp breaking, takes the strength of Sparticus. It has been shot very little. Is this going to get any better without surgery?

Shadi Khalil · January 14, 2011, 07:07 PM

I think Big Dot makes something for the 642... I know they made them for the 342. Welcome and good luck.

Nnobby45 · January 14, 2011, 07:17 PM

There's a very small pin. I had the XS Big Dot installed on mine. If I had it to do again, I might go with the Standard Dot, but it's fast and easy to see.

Rick_S · January 14, 2011, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the info, guys.

That pin must be microscopic because I turned this gun every which way but loose and my old eyes can see one.

rdrancher · January 14, 2011, 10:25 PM

Congrats on the 642-1 find. Lots of dry firing will smooth out the trigger nicely.

XS Sight Systems offers their Big Dot Tritium or Standard Dot Tritium. http://www.xssights.com/store/handgun.html

There's a bit of discussion on it here. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...554071&page=13

HuntAndFish · January 15, 2011, 12:03 AM

The 642 does not have a pinned front sight. The only way to change it is to have a gunsmith mill off the existing blade and mill in a dovetail for a different sight.

This costs about the same as the lowest priced laser grip.

EDIT: Link to C&S for this work....
Front Sight on non-pinned J-Frame

Yankee Bill · January 15, 2011, 02:05 AM

I just took my new 642 for its first range trip a couple of days ago and had a bit of a time seeing the front sight well with these half century + old eyes of mine. A front sight upgrade of some sort would be nice.

I dry fired mine 1000 times before going to the range and it helped smooth out the trigger a little.

YB

Rick_S · January 15, 2011, 04:55 AM

It is nice to have a resource like this and all you folks willing to share your experiences and thoughts.

Thanks again.

Any thoughts on whether I should have this done on a 642-1 no ILS? Will it hurt the value?

Junglework · January 15, 2011, 10:05 AM

Old police range trick on qualification day was to dab a bite of White-out on the front site serrations. Been doing it for years and it actually holds up pretty well.

Rick_S · January 15, 2011, 08:55 PM

Thanks for the tip. We used to do just the opposite in the bullseye matches and blackened them with smoke from a smudge pot. It still did not improve my score.

January 14, 2011, 05:34 PM	#1
Rick_S Junior Member Join Date: February 13, 2007 Posts: 13	S&W Model 642-1 Front Sight I just bought a used 642-1 no ILS. It is my first real snubby. I had a 2 inch model 10 that was really great - but I digress. 1. It looks as if the front sight and ramp are removable in some way. When I look at it carefully, I can see a small line around the ramp and sight. Can it be removed? Can night sights be put on it like the 640 Pro? 2. Trigger pull, while smooth and crisp breaking, takes the strength of Sparticus. It has been shot very little. Is this going to get any better without surgery?

January 14, 2011, 07:52 PM	#4
Rick_S Junior Member Join Date: February 13, 2007 Posts: 13	Thanks for the info Thanks for the info, guys. That pin must be microscopic because I turned this gun every which way but loose and my old eyes can see one.

January 14, 2011, 10:25 PM	#5
rdrancher Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 97	Congrats on the 642-1 find. Lots of dry firing will smooth out the trigger nicely. XS Sight Systems offers their Big Dot Tritium or Standard Dot Tritium. http://www.xssights.com/store/handgun.html There's a bit of discussion on it here. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...554071&page=13 __________________ Behind the Barn John 14:6

January 15, 2011, 12:03 AM	#6
HuntAndFish Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO. Posts: 580	The 642 does not have a pinned front sight. The only way to change it is to have a gunsmith mill off the existing blade and mill in a dovetail for a different sight. This costs about the same as the lowest priced laser grip. EDIT: Link to C&S for this work.... Front Sight on non-pinned J-Frame __________________ NRA Benefactor MSSA Life Member Last edited by HuntAndFish; January 15, 2011 at 12:10 AM.

January 15, 2011, 04:55 AM	#8
Rick_S Junior Member Join Date: February 13, 2007 Posts: 13	Thanks Again It is nice to have a resource like this and all you folks willing to share your experiences and thoughts. Thanks again. Any thoughts on whether I should have this done on a 642-1 no ILS? Will it hurt the value?

January 14, 2011, 07:07 PM	#2
Shadi Khalil Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,210	I think Big Dot makes something for the 642... I know they made them for the 342. Welcome and good luck.

January 14, 2011, 07:17 PM	#3
Nnobby45 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2004 Posts: 3,150	There's a very small pin. I had the XS Big Dot installed on mine. If I had it to do again, I might go with the Standard Dot, but it's fast and easy to see.

January 15, 2011, 02:05 AM	#7
Yankee Bill Member Join Date: September 6, 2010 Posts: 30	I just took my new 642 for its first range trip a couple of days ago and had a bit of a time seeing the front sight well with these half century + old eyes of mine. A front sight upgrade of some sort would be nice. I dry fired mine 1000 times before going to the range and it helped smooth out the trigger a little. YB

January 15, 2011, 10:05 AM	#9
Junglework Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2005 Location: Plainfield Posts: 8	Old police range trick on qualification day was to dab a bite of White-out on the front site serrations. Been doing it for years and it actually holds up pretty well.

January 15, 2011, 08:55 PM	#10
Rick_S Junior Member Join Date: February 13, 2007 Posts: 13	White-Out Thanks for the tip. We used to do just the opposite in the bullseye matches and blackened them with smoke from a smudge pot. It still did not improve my score.