Front Sight is canted

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greyman
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Joined: 04/12/2011

How would a canted front sight (canted to right a tad) on a Colt SAA New Frontier be corrected?  Isn't there more than just turning the barrel to the left with the proper tool?  What about the ejector tube?
 

admin
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Joined: 07/07/2010
Is sending it back...

...An option? Hate to start messing with it, rotating the bbl is a task I would only trust to a top notch smith.

Chris3755
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Joined: 08/02/2010
Several Questions?

Hi Greyman: First question: how did you determine it was canted and how far do you think it is off center. The ramp and sight are one unit soldered to the barrel. If the barrel is not screwd to a witness mark at the factory it could be tightend a bit and that would move the sight to the left, it would require a minor amount of movement to make a big difference at the sight so chances are the ejector housing and rod would still be in alignment enough to be ok, it's still a job for the factory or a good smith with the proper tools to do the job. If the sight blade is actually bent on the ramp that could be more difficult but again, the factory or smith should be able to remedy that. If you go back to the factory, they have the resources to reblue or even rebarrel if needed. A smith might have to reblue and you'd want to be sure it matches the rest of the gun. Cost is an issue as well as turn around time either way. If the sight is so canted that a slight adjustment won't fix it you would probably need the reamp remounted and barrel reblued or a whole new barrel.  I would opt for the factory to make good on the product but you would have to talk to them first. Is it a new gun or used? If new I would think they would warranty the problem, once a smith works on it the factory may take the position that any repairs they would do would be your cost. Chris
P.S. I soldered this new ramp on my SBH and it slightly discolored the blue right in front of the ejector housing if you look close. It is a working gun so I wasn't worried about a little blemish but if it was on my Colt New Frontier I would be worried.
 
P1010009
 

greyman
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Joined: 04/12/2011
Cant

 
Cant is only slight and front sight blade is not bent, but I will return it to the Colt factory. Thanks for responses and sound advice men!

admin
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Another...

...satisfied customer!

mworkmansr
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Joined: 09/21/2010
Straightening front sight

Greyman;
 
My son had a similar problem with a Virginian Dragoon he bought at a gun show. When we got it home, he noticed that the front sight was several degrees to the right off center. Since we live in the seventh pit of Hell, gunsmiths were not an option. I ordered a barrel vise by Wheeler Engineering from Midway. It's about $60. Comes with three sets of oak jaws. I clamped it to one of my workbenches, ran double sided carpet tape up the barrel (after I removed the ejector rod housing), and had my 13 year old grandson grab it by the front of the frame and give it a twist. It took a couple of tries, but we ooched it into place, and it's sighted perfectly now. I figured there was no danger of warping the frame if the kid turned it bare-handed. I have a couple of other single actions that might get some adjustment now that I know how easy it is.

Don't worry. Be happy.