1911 Colt Sight Cut

[devildave31]

Does "Colt Cut" refer to the standard dovetail that would be found on a typical GI 1911? In other words if I were looking to buy new Sights for a GI, and found some that were "Colt Cut", then there should be no milling or modifications necessary to install the new sights?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, that is the way it is supposed to work anyway.

rc

 

[schmeky]

then there should be no milling or modifications necessary to install the new sights?

Milling, no. However 98% of the time fitting will be required. Always fit the sight to the dovetail.

 

[devildave31]

yeah, I had kind of assumed that. One thing I have learned in all my reading/forum perusing is that apparently there is no such thing as a true "drop-in" part.

Thanks for the info.

 

[rcmodel]

Generally a new sight will be too tight to drive it in without galling.

Remove metal from the bottom of the sight dovetail (not the slide cut) until you get a proper tight fit.

Don't try to file off the edges of the dovetail itself.
Removing metal from the bottom lowers the whole dovetail V-angle in the slide cut an equal amount.

rc

 

[Jim K]

Plus if you mess up, buying a new sight is a whole lot cheaper than buying a new slide.

Jim

 

[devildave31]

You know it would have never occurred to me to file the bottom of the dovetail on the sight, but it does make excellent sense. Thanks for the tip!

 

[schmeky]

Yea, rcmodel is really bad about giving excellent advice .

I've learned a lot from his posts/wisdom.