Colt Lightweight Commander XSE - night sights ???

[BigSlick]

Hi guys,

I have a LWC that I want to install night sights on.

I've looked all over and have heard many different stories regarding availability of options.

Some 'smiths have told me the dovetail cut isn't a 'true' Novak cut. Others have told me the only option is to remove the existing sights, send them to Trijicon (or ???) and have them drilled for Tritium inserts and reinstalled on the pistol.

Others yet have told me a set of std Novaks will work fine.

Can any of you shed some light on what is actually required to get night sights on this gun ? Looking for 3 dot green, low/no snag sights. It sounds pretty simple...

Thanks in advance for the help ;)

BigSlick

[lt. commander]

The cheep and easy way is to send the slide to Trijicon or Novak and have them cut the dovetails and install their night sights. About a week turn around time for either one. Check their web sites for more info..

Scott

[garrettwc]

Big slick, it depends on which XSE you have. Some of the earlier ones had Colt's copy of the Novak sight. It looks similar, but there are some physical differences. The newest ones have actual Novak's on them IIRC. You can look close at the sight to see. If they are Novak's it will say so.

[Ric4509]

Why not call or email Novaks to make sure. My XSE I purchased 3 weeks ago looks exactly like a Novaks but with the serrations on both sides. I does not say Novaks on it. But I believe a Novaks will fit in the cut. Not sure about the front.

[Bud White]

My Dealer told me they were novak's and had installed a few to the Xse's I'm going to have them fit a set to mine

[BigSlick]

I called Trijicon and Novaks.

Neither offer a standard set of sights for the XSE. It has to do with the front sight being to close to the end of the slide.

Any other ideas ?

[Bud White]

No ideals then at that sucks maybe ill just leave um alone not very big on night sights anyways

[wichaka]

I would send the slide to Novak and have them install the sights. I would suggest getting the rear with the new wider notch, you'll be able to pick up the front sight much faster.

[MLee]

Big Slick,

Did you ever solve your problem? I'm having the same one with my O4860XSE Commander LW XSE as well. I called Novak, and they said that they carried the replacement rear, and said that Colt was using a Chinese copy (with serrations on the side) of their sight. The only problem that I had, is Novak's sights don't look like mine. My LW XSE looks just like the picture on Colt's site. Novak also said that they don't carry the front sight (dovetail) but Trijicon does. I called customer service at Trijicon and they were confused - referred me to their tech rep, Dave Spencer, who was out of the office. Hopefully, he will get back to me. One would think that someone would make a set of night sights for a 1911 from a major manufacturer. Oh, one more round to the scenario, Colt will be glad to put a set on for $240 plus shipping both ways (~ $40 each way).

Mike