Commander XSE front sight....gone!

[ptf18]

While at the range with my XSE Commander. The front sight became loose then disappeared into oblivion....never did find it.

Upon examining the cut out on the slide for the front sight I see that the front sight was just "glued" (loctite) into the cutout.

I assumed that the front sight was "staked" into the slide. Geuss not.

Where can I get a replacement front OEM sight? And should I just reloctite it place again?

[1911Tuner]

I assumed that the front sight was "staked" into the slide. Geuss not.

It was. It just wasn't done properly. You can get an OEM replacement from Brownells in the Colt Factory Parts section.

[DuckRyder]

ptf18, XSE's have come 2 ways "Hardballer" type sights, and Champion sights.

If your XSE is an Early model with Hardballer sights you can indeed get that one from Brownells (and a tool to install it).

If it is a newer model with Champion (Novak Style) and Brownells can't help, then Champion Gunsite can, although you may have to call. They also say they have Tritium if that is of any interest to you.

The Champion front sight on my Super .38 XSE Commander is pinned (at least it appears to have a pin in the middle of the dovetail.).

Of course any XSE should be new enough that Colt would fix it under Warranty.

[1911Tuner]

Wasn't it the XS...or was that XE...so many variations these days, I tend to forget the exact designations...or XE model that came with Novak-type sights with the front dovetailed in? Every XSE I've seen has had the standard sights, unless it came through the custom shop...or were installed by a smith.

[Ric4509]

Call Colt and complain. Your front sight should not fly off like that.

[DuckRyder]

Tuner,

From what I can figure they didn't even change the numbers just the Sights.

Here is my O1070XSE (before it was sent to the custom shop) just as I bought it. Colt says it was built in 2003 I bought it in 2007. The same dealer had an XSE commander that didn't even have an AMBI safety (I kind of wish I had bought that one).

http://home.att.net/~duckryder/1080XSE1.jpg

He has since had a O1070XSE current production with the Champion (Novak Style) sights.

This is my O4540XS with the Champions that came from Buds. Colt says it was built in 2006. (I had changed the stock screws and stocks at this point.)

http://home.att.net/~duckryder/4540XSEW.jpg


I kind of wish they would use a standard type dovetail front on the XSE's now, its apparently both to large and too close to the end of the slide to replace with a real Novak or Heine.

I did send the O1070XS to the Custom shop and they installed a Heine front and Real Novak rear.

Didn't the XS's have some sort of rear sight that had a small tang on the back, looks kind of like a really triangular Novak with an extra half dovetail at the back edge?

[1911Tuner]

Hmmm...Learn somethin' new ever' blesset day.