Fiber optic front sight for Browning 1911-380

[zaitcev]

Does anyone know if such a thing exists somewhere? The difficulty is in the Black Label version, which does not have the front sight dove-tailed in, but rather staked into a drilled hole. I looked for any products with the help of Internet search engines, but to no avail. But maybe someone knows of a trick, like picking the sight from a different gun? How about taking a Glock front sight, then getting it into the hole and staking in instead of screwing in?

 

[MikeInOr]

I love my Browning 1911-380.... but wish I could get fiber optic sights for it! If you find something that works from another gun please let me know!

 

[zaitcev]

Okay. I'm going to knock something out with my 3D printer. Of course it's going to be the ABS plastic, which loses strength somewhere around 240 F. But I'm not going to run meltdown tests.

BTW, Numrich has stock sights for non-Pro Black Labels. I ordered the front sight, in case my project ends in a failure, so I have something to return to. Supposedly they are identical to the 1911-22 sights. The Black Label "Pro" has the dovetailed front sight and Browning sells a version of those with 3-dot (no fiber optics though).

 

[zaitcev]

I knocked out a design, but so far no go. The current design cannot be printed out completely, and the part breaks in post-processing. There's just not a lot of material around the fiber rod. I marked the break line red.

One of the challenges is that the barrel on Browning 1911-380 is not parallel to the top of the slide when in battery (it's like CZ-75). So, front sight is lower than the rear sight, and must be slanted, not square.

I was thinking about selling the finished product at Fraurem.com, but it's a long road ahead.





P.S. I could go for a thinner optic rod, but those are usually too dim for my eyes.

 

[priler]

I have no direct solution to your problem but I will give you this suggestion or info, Eagle Imports deals with the Llama line and they have the wonderful little Micromax in .380(mate or chrome) that, iirc, comes with a dovetailed front fiber optic already. if your project doesn't work out you could always get one of those or I suppose, if you can machine your slide, perhaps get one of those sights and install that. that sight does look slanted and it seems like it would work.

 

[Kaybee]

If this evolves into a business of custom sights, I’ve been looking for a fiber optic for the Ruger mark IV standard. Doesn’t exist!

 

[zaitcev]

A version that is suitable to install is completed. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be selling these. The ABS material is much too fragile at these thicknesses. I'm going to test the sample and see how it holds up, but I'd be surprised if it lasts 100 rounds. The biggest concern is actually inside the slide, where the sight grips it with little tiny pawls.

Thinking about trying Nylon, maybe that one is better.

 

[HuntingCrazy]

A version that is suitable to install is completed. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be selling these. The ABS material is much too fragile at these thicknesses. I'm going to test the sample and see how it holds up, but I'd be surprised if it lasts 100 rounds. The biggest concern is actually inside the slide, where the sight grips it with little tiny pawls.

Thinking about trying Nylon, maybe that one is better.

View attachment 842335

I'm right there with you. This pistol would be absolutely AWESOME if I could swap the front sight with a fiber optic.

 

[zaitcev]

The Fraurem sight is on Thingverse if anyone wants an STL to print it.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4249698

The final version has 1 window instead of 2 of the initial, which lets to make the little loops a bit stronger.