Instructions for King's Arsenal #402 Type Staking Tool

[epags]

I am looking for the detailed insturction on how to use this staking tool.
I received a King's Arsenal #402 Type Staking Tool but no instructions as how to hold the front sight in place while using the tool.
If anyone can photo or scan a copy I would appreciate it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Isn't the front sight placed into the slide, the slide and sight placed upside down on a metal surface and the tool then struck?

 

[a5werkes]

Here's a video link to a similar styled King's Arsenal staking tool.......It seems to be sponsored by Colt?........the guy does not seem
particularly gunsmith savvy. Not being a gunsmith I may not be savvy enough to know!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFwWQJ5YTcQ

The basic principles of replacing these sights is first to establish whether the 1911 slide sight site in hand accepts a narrow or wide tenon. Wide tenon sights can be filed to dimensions of narrow tenon. Usually the sight is held by the vise. The exposed tenon inside the slide is then approached with your staking tool in hand to displace the tenon metal to secure the sight inside the slide. Some like to create a small mortise on the inside of the slide to allow the displaced tenon a home to find. Some also like to use an loctite style adhesive (belt & suspender philosophy). A friend needed a HiViz front sight installed on his 1911. Here's how I approached the task after I completely disassembled the filthy gun art before me.

Fit the tenon.
Use Loctite 620.
Staking tool of choice.
Sight held in vise.
Gentle taps to displace tenon inside the slide.
Rotary abrasive tool or a curved file to smooth the tenon to internal slide surface.

 

[dfariswheel]

$6.99 on Amazon. Just ordered one, thanks.

I am looking for the detailed insturction on how to use this staking tool.
I received a King's Arsenal #402 Type Staking Tool but no instructions as how to hold the front sight in place while using the tool.
If anyone can photo or scan a copy I would appreciate it.

I key part of getting a front sight stake that won't fail and let the sight come loose is to use a Dremel Carbide ball cutter to grind a small countersink into the inside of the slide over the sight tenon slot.
This gives the riveting of the tenon room to flow down below the surface of the slide.
This insures enough rivet is left after grinding off the excess after staking.

The reason sights come off is because no countersinking was done and when riveted, all the rivet is laying on the surface of the slide.
When the excess is ground off to clear the barrel bushing, not enough rivet is left, and the sight comes loose.

It's good gunsmith practice to put a good drop of Loctite Red in the tenon hole as a belt and suspenders method of insuring a permanent job.
Also while staking, keep looking to insure the front sight is lever, not tilted, or rotated out of line.

It's the small things most people don't do that makes good gun work.

 

[243winxb]

detailed insturction

From Brownells may help? Google "Brownells front sight staker tool instructions"

Look for this-


In the 70s, a gunsmith staked the sight, then used a torch to braze or solder it in. The heat discolored the parkerized slide of my GI 1911 that i paid $45 for.

Around the same time, at a weekly indoor club shoot, a wannabe machinist/gunsmith put one on with Loctite. Took 3 shots for the sight to go sailing thru the air. Everyone had a good laugh.

 

[epags]

From Brownells may help? Google "Brownells front sight staker tool instructions"

Look for this-
View attachment 1190392

In the 70s, a gunsmith staked the sight, then used a torch to braze or solder it in. The heat discolored the parkerized slide of my GI 1911 that i paid $45 for.

Around the same time, at a weekly indoor club shoot, a wannabe machinist/gunsmith put one on with Loctite. Took 3 shots for the sight to go sailing thru the air. Everyone had a good laugh.

Thanks for the lead. While I could not find their written instructions, I found this link: https://rifleshooter.com/2020/02/how-to-stake-a-1911-front-sight/
which has some clear pictures on holding the sight tightly in the jaws of the vice when staking. See photo.
Interestingly, I have read another way, rather than putting the sight in the jaws of the vice, is to have the top of the sight on an anvil (most vices have one behind the jaws and the tightening handle) and with the slide upside down and the tenon in place use the staking tool to flair the end. Sounds like I would have to have three hands though.

 

[243winxb]

their written instructions. Page order 1,3,2.

 

[epags]

View attachment 1190430View attachment 1190431View attachment 1190432

Thank you. Dowloaded. assembled and printed.