Replacing the front sight on Pedersoli Sharps?

[Maillemaker]

So my Pedersoli Sharps shoots about 8-9" high, so a new front sight is in order.

The factor sight blade appears to be brass, pinned into a steel base. Is the pin all that is holding it in place? If I drive out the pin does the sight just fall out? Or is it soldered in?

Any tips for replacing it?

Thanks,

Steve

[Wayne Clark]

Steve,
The sight is somewhat nickel silver and is pinned by about a .055 pin, drive out with a 1/16" punch. DO NOT LOOSE THE PIN. The sight is mounted is a half moon slot, and the base is only .044 thick, thinner than the actual blade.
Use a plastic hammer and tap rear to front on the sight blade and it will pop right out. Then you will have two choices. Either take the original to a machinist and have him copy the base to fit on a new wider and taller blade or hacksaw the slot, ruining it and use a simple flat piece of metal for a new sight blade. Use a .055 drill bit, drill a hole through the existing sight base hole and in to your added sight and replace the original pin. Or solder in the blade and ruin your blue.
My thoughts,
W. Clark

[Maillemaker]

Thanks, Wayne!

Steve

[Maillemaker]

I made myself a new blade out of german silver by hand filing and punching the hole. The first one I botched but then made another. Worked great. I will do final filing at the range.

http://i.imgur.com/Q1d9LRRl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/h0U3OS1l.jpg

Steve

[jonk]

Mine wasn't pinned, though a previous skirmisher may have done away with the original sight...... mine was a solid base and sight as one piece. It is, however, a rather old Pedersoli.

As such, I ground it down, cut a new slot, and soldered one in place.