Hard to see sights on stainless fixed sight guns

[EdK]

I've taken a real liking to the practicality of the SS sixguns. Only problem is that all of mine are fitted with black adjustable sights except one: a birds' head Vaquero and I cannot see those sights in sunshine very well at all. What steps do you folks take to overcome this or should I be just sticking with blued fixed sight guns? For what it is worth I'm not concerned about authenticity - just a solid single action around the farm, woods and in general.

Thanks, Ed

[Lloyd Smale]

you can cut horizontal lines in the face of the sight blade. Use sight black but its a mess or do what i did with mine send it to Clements and have him install a drift adjustable black front sight.

[Steve P]

Didn't you know they invented black magic markers to blacken the rib on your sights?  Comes off easily too if you want it to.

Have fun.

Steve  

[Ringo Steele]

Another option might be bead-blasting the sight blade and top strap. This should cut the glare considerably.

[siamese4570]

EdK: my standard sight black is a small bottle of testors (model car) flat black paint applied with a q-tip.  it stays on well but can be removed most gun cleaning solvents or lighter fluid if you rub on it a little bit.  it's not as messy as the spray on sight black.

[Camp Cook]

I've been using black felt marker or colored nail polish for years now.

Hot pink actually stands out the best for me.

Both rub off after a while if I draw alot so I just apply more when needed.

If your not using your Vaquero for competitions?

I saw a gunsmith's web page where he installed a S&W rear adjustable and matching front sight to a s/s Vaquero.

The finished gun looked very good.

I have been thinking about checking out the cost and doing that to my Bisley Vaquero's.

[44 Man]

Part of the problem is the rounded top of the sight.  I always file a flat from the bottom rear of the sight to the higest part of the top of the sight.  This will give you a slight ramp on the rear of the sight.  Next take a fine checkering file and serrate the back of the sight.  This usually solves the problem and even worked for me on a nickled Colt SAA, turning a show gun into a good shooter.  If you choose to use paint on it after this treatment, it will stay on very well.  44 Man

[EdK]

Thanks for the input to date. I tried the sight blackening recommendations with some success. Still, the gun is so shiny the entire area around the rear of the frame gleams brightly in the sun.

I like the idea of filing/serrating the front sight not only to cut glare but to reshape it as it was not lending itself to precision shooting as rounded as it was. I had not yet done any such mods as the gun was shooting a bit high when I found the real solution:

A USFA Rodeo in "used"/unfired condition at my local gun shop. Even though the matte bead blast finish does not make for much of a looker, it bears the upgraded case hardened hammer and trigger. I was initially looking for a "working" gun anyways. My Vaquero + $75 and it was in my hands.

No sight glare problems now... man does this thing lock up tight!