1911 Fiber Optic Sights

[Billy Sparks]

I want to set up one of my 1911's as a IDPA gun, as such I want to add a fiber optic front sight. Looking around Dawson Precision appears to be the most rugged, but here is the problem how to get them installed? The sights on my 1911's are staked so I have no idea how to remove the old ones or put in the new ones and quite frankly I would rather send the slide off to someone that has gone this more than I have.

 

[Hal8000]

A couple of years ago I replaced the front sight on my Colt Officers model. I did not want a staked front sight and had a local gun smith dovetail a slot over the staked hole. This worked GREAT for me and looked nice.
If you don't have any one local that can do that kind of work, I believe Wilson (and I'm sure others) can do it. You would only have to send the slide in to have the work done, saving the expense and trouble of having to deal with an FFL...

 

[railroader]

You could send the slide to Dawson's and have them install it. Mark

 

[Billy Sparks]

Does Dawson's offer that? I looked everywhere on the web site and it does not say anything about installation prices.

 

[railroader]

Call them. If they don't do installation maybe they can recommend someone. Mark

 

[Shipwreck]

Check out the new Novak fiber optic sights too - they have pics of all of them on their website - and you can get front and rear fiber optics. They also install them for you.

 

[railroader]

Billy, you don't say if your rear sight is adjustable or fixed either. If it is fixed you will need to make sure the new front sight is the same height as the staked old sight or your gun will wind up shooting high or low. Mark

 

[Billy Sparks]

Railroader that is one of the main reasons I want to send it off to Dawson's etc. I want to make sure it is there resposibility to match front to front. Actually the Colt I want to add these to is adjustable sighted.

BTW last night I did notice that Novak now had fiber optic front sights.

 

[Jiml3]

I had a Dawson fiber optic installed on the front sight of my Sig P229. I was hoping this would help my old tired eyes pick up the sight picture better. It didn't, it was better with the original sig sight. I'm 66 and when at the range, I practice without my reading glasses because if a situation arises, I don't think I will have time to look for my glasses. Practice does help but I would like something that worked better. I only bring this up because you mentioned this was for your father, and perhaps his eyesight is similar. Check them out first!

 

[Billy Sparks]

No it is for me. I have a set of HiViz sights on my Glock and love it I can pick it up quite quickly.