New sights on 1911 "GI" model?

[Frog48]

I have a Springfield 1911 "GI" model. I'd like to put on some Novak (or similar) sights, but this gun does not have the front sight attached using a dovetail.

How much should I expect to pay (ballpark figure) to have a dovetail cut/machined into the slide?

I know that some people will tell me to trade in toward a new gun that already has the sights I want. But I really love this gun, and would really like to keep it and just modify it.

 

[Glockorama]

I don't know how much the milling of the slide for something like Novaks would be, but King's sell several high profile sights that a gunsmith can install with the existing slide cuts (peening the front sight). They have a nice, simple 3-dot sight that will greatly impove your sight picture while still keeping a pretty decent "GI" look to your 1911.

 

[Frog48]

I'll have to look into those. Any recommendations on where to find them?

 

[Dustinthewind]

Grant48,

Springfield uses an odd size tenon on their front sights. The only place that my gunsmith could find the correct size was from Springfield and they prefer that you send them the gun so that they can change the sight.

 

[CWL]

If you buy the sights directly from MMC/PT Nightsights (for ~$90), they'll install them for an additional $15. You'll need to send-in your slide, but that's much cheaper than shipping an entire firearm.

IIRC, a smith will charge you ~$60 to dovetail cut the sights into a slide, and probably $30 to stake-in a front sight. If you recut the slide, you may also need to pay to have the slide refinished.

 

[BlindJustice]

Novak Low-Mount "Carry" sights

Here's the Novak web site link: I asked about changing from a rear fixed on my S&W 1911 which comes with the Novak Low-mount fixed sights on
the model I have and it seems like a simple process since the milling cut
for the rear sight is the same for the adjustable one - plain notch is
$80.

Looks like Front & Rear adj. w/white dot & milling
for your Springfield is $ 145. That's by the maker
of the sights. IMO an excellent upgrade for a G.I. ,

http://www.novaksights.com/extreme_duty_adjustable_sight.htm#SMITH_

Note if yah go for the Tritium Night sights option
the Tritium will glow 8-10 years

Go for it...

Randall