front sight

[markdavidson]

I have what probably amounts to a dumb question. I am waiting for the ups guy to bring me a new novak wide notch white dot rear sight. I didn’t opt for getting a new front at this time, because I couldn’t get a good answer as to what height the new on would need to be in order to shoot POA. So I made one oversized to file on till I have the height I need, after which I could measure and order the correct one (white dot). But the one I made was easy to make and looks real good although its not dimpled for the dot yet. Now on to the question, I read through a lot of old posts about staking and silver soldering and the problems associated with narrow tenon sights. (the tenon is small). Couldn’t a person just open up the hole and utilize a larger tenon and have more meat to stake?

[doctruptwn]

No because the hole is rectangle shaped. Anyway staking shouldn't be an issue. I used a flat nosed puch to stake mine worked fine.

[lksstbls]

Given that there are special "tools" sold for front sight staking, I wouldn't assume its a no-brainer. Jerry Kuhnausen's Volume one dedicates several hundred words, and a few pictures to instruct how to do the job correctly.
The challenge is to get the sight properly aligned, as well as secured. Call me a wuz, but I'd find a knowledgeable smith to do the staking job properly.

[markdavidson]

the point is probably moot anyway, because as soon as i have the correct height i will mostlikly get a dovetailed front. going off of drawings and making one I see the tenon is quite small in comparison to what it is anchoring and wondered why one couldnt just open the hole up. as for doing the machining, I feel quite comfortable doing the work myself, and have at my disposal those who are masterful on the mill. plus I enjoy making my toys uniqely mine

[doctruptwn]

Well you didn't say you have access to a mill, that is a whole different story. enlarging the hole for a wide tenon should be no big deal then.

[markdavidson]

Well you didn't say you have access to a mill,
yes i do. I already have my dovetail cutter for the job of the rear. like I was saying in reading old posts on the subject (you were involved) there were tails of shooting the front sights off, even soldered. that kinda blows my mind, although i have seen a super redhawk barrel unscrew under recoil.

[doctruptwn]

I agree with you I'd just dovetail the front end then you can change them as much as you like. I personnaly have never shot a sight off of a 1911 did it with my model 1897 Winchester, Reminds me I should probably fix that one of these days.

[markdavidson]

i think we all have one of those "i really need to get to that" projects...I gotta coach gun that needs to have the choke tube remove and rethreaded

[log man]

Note: A small tenon slide hole can be filed out to the wide tenon size, rectangular is not a problem, us a flat pointed die file. Open the hole on the inside of the slide for the tenon to spread out in and you'll not have a problem.

LOG

[toolman]

Dovetail sights aren't immune from problems. I've got one that didn't want to stay in the dovetail during recoil. If the sight isn't fitted to the dovetail tightly enough it will walk out of the dovetail during recoil.

A staked on sight done like log stated above will be about as trouble free as any other.