Hey guys,
I am thinking about picking up a companion gun for my 442. I need to get another 442 without a lock but I want to get a night sight. Is this possible? Is there enough meat in the front sight to get one in there?
I think that tooltech gunsite will do it but their new website doesn’t have any pics. I believe it’s a really tiny tube and probably won’t center in the rear notch.
Crimson Trace 405 is better than any night sight.
Try a S&W 340 M&P and remove the silly lock.:shout:
It comes with a nice big tritium front sight. Shoot .38 specials even though it is chambered for .357 mag
the 340 can be found without the lock and with rear U notch and XS up front. very similar to the 442
I like the Crimson Trace LG-105 the best.
I recently had a night sight installed on my no lock 442. The work was done by Mark Hartshorne who owns Pinnacle High Performance. He did a great job and I’m extremely happy with his work.
XS can install one on for you as well.
Get whatever you want - then simply remove the lock. I did so on a model 22 (admitedly, a bigger & easier to work on rev). Replaced everything with what is called “the plug”. Can be obtained on the S&W forum for a few bucks. Well worth the peace of mind!
john
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/smith_wesson_basic_packages.html
ck out the j frame package. "
Starts ramble
+1 on the M&P 340. If you can get one without the lock do so. Mine had the lock (it was used and the deal was too good to pass up) and it was very easy to purchase “the plug” and remove it.
I very much understand you not wanting that cursed thing in the first place though. Not only for the chance of accidental engagement but also what it stands for.
As for the night sight on a 442 I don’t see why it couldn’t be done. I mean people have gold beads put into the sight I couldn’t imagine why it couldn’t be done with a tritium insert.
Completes ramble :lazy2:
Anyways I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor and hope you keep us posted. 
Greg:
If you really want it bad enough, you can get Hamilton Bowen to do a rear and front sight for your J frame. Here you go:
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/smith_wesson_basic_packages.html
I bought the first 340PD I saw right after they came out. It has an XS big dot front sight I installed. I dont see an issue with the standard rear grove, it works for me.
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/smith_wesson_basic_packages.html
I just checked out their website. Very nice work. Much better than mine done at home on the coffee table.
I’ve carried JFrames for the last 20 years. Great little guns. The day I saw this 340PD in the gun shop my 642 came out of my pocket, I traded it in and left with the 340PD. Wish I kept the 642 but needed it to fund the little magnum.
I tried to get some good shots of the XS big dot tritium sight on my 340PD.
S&W 642 customized by Don Williams of The Action Works.
Work completed:
Install custom night sight regulated for 158gr +P LSWCHP
Radius and polish trigger face
“Duty” action job and tune for proper timing
Chamfer charge holes
Stipple back strap
Fit set of Craig Spegel “Centennial” boot grips
Hope that helps.
If you don’t mind me asking how much was that work? I would love to get that done to my wife’s airweight.
JP
I don’t mind the asking and wish I had an answer. IIRC the work was done in 2003 and my records are all in storage. It appears Don is still in business and accepting work. http://theactionworks.com/
That looks nice. When the front sight is centered in the rear notch, is the tritium visible or do you have to shoot out of the notch to see the tritium?
You shoot out of the notch. Kinda like --O-- With the tritium dot just between the uprights of the rear notch. Really fast and 50’ groups can be covered with a paper plate.
Except in the day light. I have given up on Crimson trace after going through two grips for my 1911. The switches go bad fairly quick. I had one on a 442 I had and it did not give me issues but I did not shoot that gun much either. Also the laser is fairly quick indoors and at low light outside but it sucks in normal lightling conditions. The big dot night sight on my 340 M&P is easy to use in all conditions.
Pat
