Joe, I had a Spokane, WA smith ("Spokehandguns" I think) put an S&W sight on a Colt New Service .45 that had its topstrap defaced by a small, sloppy dovetail already. He also used the "J-frame" sight from an S&W "Kit Gun." Worked slick. When a gun is too far gone for the collectors (i.e. a junker), I don't have any problem with "experimentation".