Mystery front sight for a 1911

[rm9792]

I have a slide i need a front sight for. All the sights I have looked at are too small at the base. If i am measuring right the base i need is .360(ish) and most seem to sell in the .335 range. Any clues as to brands or where to get one?

[flintknapper]

Who is the manufacturer of the slide? The dimensions you cite are common for a rear sight, but not a front sight.

Two common front dovetail cuts are:
0.300 x 60 degree x 0.060
0.330 x 65 degree x 0.075

The first number represents the width of the dovetail, front to back on the slide (at the widest point).

The second number is the angle of the dovetail in degrees, and the third number is the depth of the dovetail.

You will need to determine the angle of the cut as well as the depth in order to find a front sight that will fit it. Usually, the base is cut a bit under size (.360 for a 3/8" base), so expect to do a small amount of fitting/filing.

[MoJo]

Contact Dawson Precision or Novak they may have something that will work. Is it a Colt slide? Colt put an oddball size dovetail on their pistols that were dovetailed.

[The Annoyed Man]

Contact Dawson Precision or Novak they may have something that will work. Is it a Colt slide? Colt put an oddball size dovetail on their pistols that were dovetailed.

I know that RIA slides have a weird dovetail cut into the front of their slides. Search for a thread posted by AndyC where he details what he did to work around it.

[rm9792]

This was custom cut by a smith for a customer who tore up the sight, witha grinder.... Dont ask, apparently the owner was an idiot. I think it is a caspian slide. I measured it closer to .355 but would rather fit a .360 so have material to remove. depth is .75.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

This was custom cut by a smith for a customer who tore up the sight, witha grinder.... Dont ask, apparently the owner was an idiot. I think it is a caspian slide. I measured it closer to .355 but would rather fit a .360 so have material to remove. depth is .75.

LOL!

As recommended previously, I would call Dawson Precision in Florence as I'm sure they could hook you up.

Another option is EGW at the following link: http://www.egw-guns.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They do good work...for a bunch of Yankees.

[flintknapper]

This was custom cut by a smith for a customer who tore up the sight, witha grinder.... Dont ask, apparently the owner was an idiot. I think it is a caspian slide. I measured it closer to .355 but would rather fit a .360 so have material to remove. depth is .75.

Thats what I suspected. Your choices are: Have the dovetail welded up and re-cut (I wouldn't recommend) or go with a front sight that has a 3/8" (.375) base and file it to fit. Note: File the sight, not the slide, just so we're clear

What is the distance from the front of the slide to the center of the dovetail cut? This will be a consideration too... when choosing a front sight to install/modify.

[rm9792]

Where can i get a .375? I didnt see those anywhere I looked. slide front edge to center of cut is roughly .265

[flintknapper]

Where can i get a .375? I didnt see those anywhere I looked. slide front edge to center of cut is roughly .265

We can find you something, but first you need to know the shoulder angle and depth of the dovetail. The depth can be dealt with easily...but you don't want to have to file the angle into the new sight.

Another problem will be finding a front sight that doesn't project beyond the front of the slide. Many of the dovetailed front sights with a .375 base will be for a rifle or muzzle loader.

[flintknapper]

Ted Yost used to make a “Rescue Sight” that measured .375" x .085" x 65 degrees with a .250" blade height.

http://www.heirloomprecision.com/index2.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

info@hp1911.com
Jason@hp1911.com
480-804-1911

Give them a call and see if they still have any or could make one.

If not, EGW might have something oversize.

Don't let anyone do a silver solder "Dutchman" on your slide IF its a Caspian. Same thing for welding (unless they really know what they are doing).

[rm9792]

Some more measurements, maybe a math major here can figure the angles. Front angle looks steeper than the rear angle.