Any suggestions for a good rear sight for a defense 1911 (not a range tackdriver, but a functional sight for practical use)? Tritium?

I think fixed sights are best for defensive pistols. For no-gunsmithing types, I like the King's Tappan sights. For something with an even higher profile, King's Hardballer sights. Then there also the ones that extend to the rear of the slide. These do increase the sight radius a little and some are really nice. There are so many choices now, this is really the golden age of the 1911.

I use Novak's sights exclusively. They fit the stock dovetail with no machining and present a grear sight picture, similar to the Bomar adjustable sight. The rear sight can be moved in the dovetail for windage adjustment. You will have to install an oversized front sight (taller). Elevation can then be set by removing metal from the front sight until you get your zero. It may sound like a lot of work, but it really isn't, and you only have to do it once.

Ted Yost's rear sight: http://www.yost-bonitz.com/products/retrosight/ I like the Kings but the notch is too small and the corners are sharp. By the time you are done re-making it, you could have just gotten one of Ted's.

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom Gunsmithing & Parts

I guess sights are a personal matter, but I checked out the Yost sights and I prefer the Novaks; a vastly superir sight picture.

Novak's Low Mounts for me, thank you.

Rgds

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John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

Thanks for the info-- sounds like Novaks is worth a look.

Actually, I was thinking about sights that didn't require milling the slide to install. If you're going that route, I really like Scott Mulkerin's new rear sight. It's kind of a cross between a Novak and a Heinie that fits a Novak cut: http://www.sdmfabricating.com/Gold%20Bead.htm

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom Gunsmithing & Parts

The Novak sights I use fit the factory dovetail; no machining. I routinely install a taller than stock front sight so that I can dial in the elevation by reducing its height. I use an MMC staking jig, its not cheap at $100.00, but it works like a charm. I just checked the Brownells' catalog; I am using the 1911/Comp model which requires a front sight .010 higher than the low mount. I'm not sure I would want to use the low mount sight. A lot of extra work to lower your sights by .010. The Comp sight picture is very similar to the Bomar, my personal favorite, at a much lower price.