[Robert Wilson]

The standing leaf on one of my rifles has a vertical groove in the middle to aid sighting, but I much prefer such sights to have a wire inlay in that position.

Does anyone know how this is accomplished and whether it is a job for a reasonably handy home hobbyist?

[Jim Watson]

The traditional way is to cut a narrow groove, undercut the edges into a tiny dovetail, lay in a piece of gold wire, and hammer it flat so it spreads out into the undercuts and is mechanically retained. Then file level, matte finish and blue.

I don't know what shortcuts might work.

[dfariswheel]

And the gold has to be pretty pure, since high caret gold is softer and will spread into the undercut. Golds like 18kt and lower just won't work very well, they're too hard.

I have on occasion used my jeweler's "wire" saw to saw a groove and fill with paint or a gold colored "Lacquer-Stik" from Brownell's.
The jeweler's saw looks like a small coping saw frame. You can buy blades that range in size from just under a coping saw blade, down to almost as fine as a human hair.
I usually bought the 3/0 size as most adaptable for most fine work.

[.38 Special]

You can also just fill the existing groove with silver metallic marker.

[krs]

There are little kits that can do a pretty nice job. The hard part is cutting a groove or dovetailed groove.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=6633/Product/BONANZA_BRUSHING_INLAY

[dclevinger]

Robert,

Having done quite a lot of gold, platinum, silver and even soft iron inlay, I'll tell you that it isn't for most hobbyists. You could use a jewlers saw and fill it with a laquer stick or one of the gold kits. Using a pure wire inlay and rust bluing the sight works very well because the carding done in the bluing process actually polishes the inlay a bit and helps it stand out even more.

[Robert Wilson]

Thank you for your replies. David, I sent you an email but I have not heard back. In the meantime I ordered one of the Forster kits and will see how it works. I will report on it, if anyone is interested. If it is unsatisfactory, David, I will try again to contact you.

Thanks again!

[Robert Wilson]

The Forster kit was very easy to use and the results perfectly satisfactory, although it remains to be seen if it will last. Thanks again for the replies.