Hi-Power Sights

[xtarheel]

I have a circa 1960 Hi-power. Belgium made, internal extractor. Years ago I had a set of MMC adjustable sights installed. Today at the range, the front sight departed for parts unknown. Can any recommend a reputable gunsmith that I might ship the stripped slide to for the installation of a new front sight? Thank you

 

[wiscoaster]

Does your Hi-Power have a dove-tailed front sight (had)? Mine has a milled front sight. Numrich Gun Parts has a whole slew of different Hi-Power front sights in stock, most of which look like they're for dove-tailed slides, so if that's what you have, you just have to figure out which one is the right one for your gun. And it shouldn't be too hard as a DIY project. If you had the milled front sight, how the heck did it separate from the slide???

 

[Project355]

1960.... No dovetail. Is there a round post hole where the sight used to be?

The old Millett sight was good for those. Your internal extractor is rarer, but... You can have it cut for a dovetail.

Cylinder & Slide does lotsa HP work. They will probably want to install a BoMar type rear with whatever you do. Worth it imho.

 

[wiscoaster]

1960.... No dovetail. Is there a round post hole where the sight used to be?

Ah hah!! So that would be mine, too. NOT milled. I cannot see a line there for anything.

 

[Project355]

Millett was a good staked on sight from years past. Hard to find these days.

Dovetail is the way to go on yhe cheep. Silver solder is cooler, fancier, but you will need to refinish the slide goin that route.

Check out C&S they do good work.

 

[xtarheel]

Yes. Older Hi-Power. Not dovetailed or milled. Staked like my 1911's. Was silver soldered but that failed.

 

[Project355]

Usually.... A skirted front with bomar woks great on those.

 

[Project355]

Something like that for silver soldered

 

[dahermit]

Yes. Older Hi-Power. Not dovetailed or milled. Staked like my 1911's. Was silver soldered but that failed.

Was not likely "silver soldered"...silver solder is not the same as common soft solder despite the "silver" color of soft solder (lead, tin based with some slight amount of silver nowadays). Silver solder is/was used at way higher temperature than soft solder and more apporpriately should have been called, "silver braze". The temperature used for soft soldering does not remove the Blue from a gun whereas Silver Solder will remove the Blue. It is most likely that the front sight was soft soldered inasmuch as it allowed the sight to fly off the gun.

 

[Project355]

I have not seen every Hi Power, but.... Some used the dront sight to hold the "bushing" in. Clearly visible hole in bushing for sight. Others were silver brazed / solver soldered, as were also yhe "bushing". Could be other ways they did that. Probably not soft soldered, as FN knows better than that. Damage could loosen a silver soldered sight....