Replacing 1911 front sight

[Petrol & Powder]

I have an inexpensive 1911 that was a gift and it has value to me. The front sight has departed from the slide twice.
It is the type with the narrow tenon. When I replaced the first one, I peened the replacement solidly in place and was confident it was installed properly.

So here's where I am: I can obtain another narrow tenon replacement and fit it to the slide OR I can cut a dovetail into the slide and fit a dovetail blade in place.

Other than the front sight issue, it's a good gun.


Any thoughts ?

 

[RicinYakima]

Cut the dovetail and never look back.

 

[Ian]

Yep, cut the dovetail, it's SOP for durable builds.

Front Sights

www.edbrown.com

 

[JWFilips]

I'm in the same boat!
I want to replace my combat style sights on my 2013 Remington 1911 R1s with plain black target sights ( with adjustable rear)

 

[Missionary]

JB Weld has been used to hold those peen on sights for a good spell. I would think any real expoxy would do the same.
But we also have two slides that are dovetailed.

 

[Rick H]

Dovetail and never worry about it again

 

[Cherokee]

Dovetail, best way to go

 

[358156 hp]

I've gone to dovetails as well. Pick something common though, I use Novak dovetails exclusively. Make certain that whoever cuts you dovetails is familiar with working on guns. If you only have one or two that need machining and you don't have someone really experienced locally, consider sending your slide out to someone like Novak to make sure they're done correctly and straight! I had a local "gunsmith" cut a Colt slide for a Novak front and he got the damn sight crooked.

As far as the tenon front sight goes, back in the olden days we used to open up the slot in the slide of the narrow tenon sight to the size if a wide tenon sight for better retention. Often times the front sight was also silver soldered after swaging the tenon. Those sights did not self-eject again. Ever. They were also semi-permanent and non-adjustable, unlike the dovetail approach.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Thanks.
It looks a dovetail and maybe a Novak sight is in my future.

 

[gman]

Just to pass it on. If you need a front blade taller or shorter than what's available and you want a trijicon night sight contact tooltechgunsight.com. They can make a custom night sight for you.

 

[Brad]

Guys, we all know the real answer.

Buy a mill and a few thousand dollars of setup fixtures, measuring devices, and tooling. Then you can do it yourself and save the cost of paying someone.

 

[Charles Graff]

Take your wide tenon and file it to the correct width for the slot. Follow "the rule of halves", I have done this four times and with Red Locktite, the sights are still there. I used a King clone of the old Armory staking tool.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Brad, I resisted doing what you recommended.......but just barely.

Because the gun has sentimental value to me I elected to send the slide off to Novak and have them perform their regular magic.

I've cut dovetails myself with a file and do it correctly but I know this gun is a keeper and I decided to pay someone else to do the work.

 

[Brad]

Totally understand the desire to have it done right which often means someone else!

I am still a bit hesitant to take a file to my own firearms. Now a mould, that is another story entirely.

 

[Ian]

You can make a file jig (think "miter box") out of 1x2s to keep your strokes level, square, and true. Pain to keep adjusting it every few thousandths but it's as good as a mill if you pay attention.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I've cut dovetails before and it isn't hard. However, I would have to buy an over-height front sight, cut the dovetail, install the sight, shoot the gun, file it down to get the proper height and cold blue it. I decided that I would just upgrade both the front and rear sights and pay someone else to do the work.

If it was just some old gun I was playing with, I wouldn't give it a second thought. The gun isn't valuable in itself but it was a gift and means something to me.

 

[JWFilips]

No Need for a Jig: A parallel 60 deg File with one side with the teeth ground off.
Stand comfortable and relaxed and only file like your target is the center of the dovetail with the flat of the file riding on the base of the dovetail and the bite of the file contacting one side of the dovetail side & a few swipes at a time. That will get'r done

 

[Ian]

I use a jig to keep my file from rocking because I'm not as good at push-filing as some of you and always manage to put a slight crown on the bottom of the dovetail that gives a hairline gap on the edges when the sight is installed unless I make a support on each side of the dovetail to file against.

 

[RicinYakima]

The summer I spent as a Tool and Die apprentice made a filer out of me. Those old German guys would wack you good if you got lazy and let your technique get bad.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I have a lot of respect for those old German guys.