Howell Uberti .45 Colt COAL

[ssb73q]

Hi Mike this tool has worked very well for me doing a few dovetails on 1851s:

http://blackpowdersmoke.com/colt/index.php?topic=1580.msg15021#msg15021

The only issue for using that dovetail tool on the round barrel of the 1860 is that there will always be the keyway slot ends of the original sight keyway showing. Also getting the dovetail perpendicular to the vertical barrel axis would be problematic. IMO to do a round barrel dovetail correctly would require a milling machine and a dovetail cutter.

I could try soft soldering the front sight back, but certain I will screw up the bluing next to the sight. I will give the black 380 stuff a try.

Regards,
Richard

[Captainkirk]

Looks good! In fact the whole gun looks good!
I still regret selling my 3-screw Pietta.

[ssb73q]

Hi scooby, what makes doing the perfect sight replacement is that the edges of the keyway were staked. That narrows the top of the keyway slot. On some of my front sight 1860s I would file away the coined staked edges of the keyway. If I had the ability to stake the front sight in, I would do so. The Pietta 1860 has a deeper keyway than the Uberti. The sight that failed to hold was pushed in with an arbor press with JB Weld in the keyway. Since the sight isn't staked in, the only force holding the sight in is the compression of the slightly larger width brass insert compared to the keyway and JB Weld adhesion.

An internet search shows that JB Weld isn't a reliable adhesive for sights. Hopefully the Loctite 380 will work better.

Regards,
Richard