1911 Loose front sight

Denver · Jul 5, 2004

I just bought a new Springfield Armory classic 1911.

It's Plain Jane, but it goes Bang.

'About 500 rds and I notice wiggly front sight.

It looks like there is plenty of metal holding it in from the underside, so I'm not overly concerned with it flying off. I thought since it's new I should send it to Springfield for the fix but I would feel silly, since it looks like something that a little red loctite would cure.

Maybe even a few small taps with a centerpunch or something similar to smoosh the metal from the bottom to tighten up the fit? Would I void my warranty?

I'm just not overly keen to be without my lead-accelerator for the duration of a trip to the factory.

(Also, if this subject has been covered, I apologize. I wonder if I am doing my searches clumsily, here. For instance "loose and front and sight", brings up nada. Is there a better set of boolean descriptors? And if so, where does one go to learn how to use them?)

Bill Z · Jul 5, 2004

Sounds like they didn't stake it on completly like they should have. A local smith should be able to do it for cheap or send the slide back to them. There is a cheap 'arsenal staking tool' that I think Kings sells ir even Brownell's. I don't like it for new instyallations, but it may bail you out on that deal.

Old Fuff · Jul 5, 2004

The looseness may be caused by:

1. It wasn't rivited tight, or ...

2. The stem is to small for the hole in the slide, in which case restaking won't work for long, or ...

3. The stem may be cracked, if so the sight will fly off sooner or later.

I would send it back to the maker and have the sight replaced, and the job done correctly.

Because that's what you paid for and have a right to expect. :cuss:

1911Tuner · Jul 6, 2004

Rights

Fuff said:

I would send it back to the maker and have the sight replaced, and the job done correctly.

Because that's what you paid for and have a right to expect.

Details! Details! It's the little things that getcha!

Colt...Springfield...Kimber...Everybody...Take 10 minutes to check
the details...Go ahead and add 10 bucks to the MSRP. We'll pay it!

ARE YOU LISTENING?

Dave Sample · Jul 6, 2004

These have a .085/.086/.087/.088 size tenon hole and they are hard to make stick. Clean it up with acetone real good and get some Green 640 Loc-tite in it and clamp it for about 24 hours. It should stay tight for a long time. Red is NOT a sleeve retainer. It is for threads.

C.R.Sam · Jul 8, 2004

New gun.
Sloppy manufacturer.

I'd call first...
Then send the slide back.

Up to them to get it right.

If you fix it yourself, the maker will never know they goofed.

Hold em to the fire, so that others may not suffer the same fate.

Sam.

Black Snowman · Jul 9, 2004

I agree with Fuff and Sam about making the mfg accountable. <In best "anti" whine I can manage>Do it for the 1911 buyers!

Your sacrifice will be appreciated.

Black Snowman · Jul 9, 2004

Another thought:
You could also see if they would re-imburse your for local repair or tools/materials so you don't have so much down time.

Dave Sample · Jul 9, 2004

$60.00 shipping charges was what I thought of when I suggested a quick fix. Oh well....................................

Kruzr · Jul 9, 2004

$60.00 shipping charges was what I thought of when I suggested a quick fix. Oh well....................................

Its a Springfield, they will pay shipping if you are willing to drive to a UPS office. The quick-mail UPS won't accept the SA red label (or is it blue label?) so you need a "real" UPS office/shipping depot. Call SA and get their shipping info. You may be without your slide for 6 weeks but then again, it could only be a week or 2........with SA, you never know.

Or, you could just try the loctite, if it doesn't hold, you could still send it back. Even Springfield wouldn't consider the use of loctite on the front sight to be modifying the gun out of warranty.

Dave Sample · Jul 9, 2004

Well said. I am very greatful that I never had to deal with factories.

C.R.Sam · Jul 9, 2004

Loose sight....after coordinating with maker, slide would ship by USPS or any other means. Not expensive if they don't foot the bill.

Frame shipping a different colored horse.

Sam

Denver · Jul 12, 2004

Thanks, guys!

I'll do it for all the 1911 buyers and send the jolly thing back to S.A. if Gander Mountain can't get reimbursed for the warranty work!

I'm actually very happy with the gun. For the price, it goes bang just fine! I did have to polish the 64th to 32nd inch deep tooling marks out of the feed ramp which were perpendicular to direction of feed, but a very small price to pay for a brand new $500 1911, I'd say!

My bad: It's a "Mil-Spec 1911-A1", not a "Classic".

Chuck Dye · Jul 17, 2004

Heresy!

Setting aside all of the consumer advocacy above, (he typed as he donned his Nomex suit

) you now have an excellent excuse to have your gunsmith install a dovetail front sight.

Denver · Jul 21, 2004

Huck Phinn!

I like your way of thinking! A dovetail front sight would, indeed, be the ticket!

What would that do to my warranty? Should I really care if the warranty is besmirched?

What brand of night sights would you guys recommend? Or should I go with Crimson Trace grips (since it's my "bedside" gun) or BOTH? :scrutiny:

I'd hang a light and a red dot sight on it, but those doodads make stuffing it in my belt a little cumbersome!

Well, all it takes is a little time and a lot of money, right?

Black Snowman · Jul 21, 2004

I prefer night sights to laser sights due to the KISS principle. Much less to go wrong and no change of process for the night sights. YMMV and all that. If you really want to drop the $$$ the laser grips might help you in those hostige rescue situations. At least that's what they told me on "That's Incredible" back in the '80

Denver · Jul 21, 2004

Thank you, Black Snowman! Good, logical thought pattern. KISS, agreed!

Dave Sample · Jul 21, 2004

I really don't know why I bothered to suggest a $7.00 fix. I will try to be more careful in the future.

Black Snowman · Jul 21, 2004

See, that's what you get for bringing logic, reason, and practicality into a dicussion. Don't worry Dave. We still love you and have the highest regard for your wisdom. At least I do

C.R.Sam · Jul 22, 2004

Dave...
I was not meaning to make light of your excellant fix and info.

However, I am adamant about not letting the manufacturer get away with asking finished product money for kits.

Sam

Dave Sample · Jul 22, 2004

Thanks, Sam. I understand your stance and could not agree with you more. I am just too used to taking care of business here and never have a need to send things back. I feel if they can't do it right the first time...............................................anyhow, all of you should hold their feet in the fire! I sent a Star back twice about ten years ago and then fixed it myself when they could not seem to do it. I have also done warranty work on my clients 6-guns because they have been jerked around by the factories. Every gun I tune carries my No BS Lifetime No-Fault Warranty so they do not need the factory. Also, they don't come back. Evey gun I build has the same warranty. I do not care what breaks or who seems to be at fault, it goes to the bench and gets fixed right now. Advice is cheap and no one knows that better than yours truly. I still try to help when asked, but can't really tell you why. A Gypsy Curse? Tuner? Can you tell me why?

Denver · Jul 24, 2004

Thank you, Dave Sample!

Sir Dave!

I haven't sent it back yet, (life is what happens while we make other plans), but your suggestion is working most excellently until I get my stuff together and send it back to hold their feet to the proverbial fire!

Simple is good.

Thanks again!

1911 Loose front sight

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