Question on sight bases (newbie on FA's!)

[critter44]

Both my friend and I have Freedom Arms revolvers in .454 and both are field grade and both have adjustable rear sights.

His rear sight fits into a milled recess in the topstrap and has a large square-shouldered sight blade.

My rear sight base is about as wide and nearly as long as the topstrap and appears to be bolted down on top of the topstrap. The sight blade is much smaller than his and is much more rounded on the corners. Whether my gun has the milled recess in the topstrap or not, I can not say as I haven't removed the rear sight.

Any insight into the differences in the sights as to reason, time periods of manufacture, etc? Also, does anybody know if my topstrap is also milled? It could make a difference if I tried to scope the gun.

Thanks for any info.

[Gun 4 Fun]

I am not an F/A authority by any stretch, but it sounds to me like you have an aftermarket sight. Have you tried removing it to see what you topstrap looks like underneath the sight you have on it now? Do you have the normal recess under it if you have?

[Ken ONeill]

Yes, your gun will have a well in the topstrap to allow mounting of the stadard FA iron sight or any of the common scope bases (Lovell, T'SOB. Leupold , Weigand, etc.) which will have shoulders that sit down into that well. The alumunum sight bases you describe have been used to hold rear sights by Bo-Mar, Iron sight Gun Works, MIllett and Ruger. What you're describing sounds a lot like a Ruger rear sight which was used on the very early Field Grades. In any event, and whatever rear sight you have, it is very easy to remove the aluminum sight base and sight- just start unscrewing!

[critter44]

Thanks for the info guys. I believe that I do have an early one with the Ruger rear sight. Glad to know that I won't have any problems if I decide to put a scope on it.

BTW, I love that gun and it is a real tackdriver powerhouse. I have not yet taken a deer with it, but I intend to try and remedy that situation this fall.