Replacement Front Sight Suggestions

[BSA1]

>to the moderators. I posted this question on Gunsmithing Forum but have not received any replies. I asked for your indulgence by allowing me to post my question on this forum.<

One of the criticisms of the Polish P-64 handgun is it’s small sights which I want to replace with some that are more visible. I have been searching on the Internet for options. and am seeking any ideas or suggestions from THR members.

One of the simplest may be replacing the front sight with a fiber optic one. This will require milling off the fixed front sight and then figuring out a way to attach the new fiber optic one. Hopefully the existing rear sight can be used requiring only the sight notch be opened up.

So my question is has anyone ever milled off the front sight on a small handgun, either revolver or semi-auto, and installed a fiber optic one? The front sight will need to be small, perhaps one suitable for a J-Frame S&W revolver. I have read about bubba fiber sight installation on other semi-autos using JB Weld but I would prefer a more professional and permanent installation.

Replacing both the front and rear sights are an option I am willing to do also as the rear sight sits on a raised rib. I have seen PPK's with better sights put on them.

Throw out any pictures, links or ideas you may have. My Brownells catalog has been getting a close look.

 

[mikemyers]

Maybe you've already done this, but you might want to also ask your question here:
http://www.p64resource.com/fixes.php

I tried searching Google, but all I found was your other post here.

 

[BSA1]

Thanks.

I spent the weekend reading through that discussion forum all the back to 2012. That is what has given me the idea of a fiber optic front sight. I think that is where I saw the bubba JB Weld job. The poster did not bother to remove the factory front sight. He just JB Welded it to the top of the slide.

Over the years I have seen pictures of PPK's with custom front and rear sights but I don't know how well it the rear sight will work out. The front sight rib is wide and deep enough for a mounting screw, pinned or dovetail.

 

[mikemyers]

......did not bother to remove the factory front sight. He just JB Welded it to the top of the slide......

Sounds like a great idea - you can try out the idea before you make any permanent modifications to the gun. Until/unless you remove the old front sight, your gun will still be "original".

 

[ugaarguy]

I closed the previous thread since you already have replies here. Next time please just report the post you need moved and we'll do it. Thanks.

 

[BSA1]

Naw I'm not concerned about keeping it original. I've got another one for that. This has a well worn finish and decent smooth enough action that it is a candidate for hard chrome type refinishing. However the metal work needs to be done first.

 

[BSA1]

ugaarguy,

Will do.

Thanks.

 

[Compound8.0]

How about removing front sight and milling a keyway for a pinned front sight such as a Meprolight for a Ruger sp 101 , which is what I'm having put on my SP right now .

 

[herrwalther]

The easiest option would be to make the current sight more visible. Lucky for you there is a $1 method you can try. Pick out some bright nail polish at the store. Put a little dab on the front sight and see if that works. I have done this to pocket guns that had trench sights and really improved sight picture for no cost. And the upside is if it doesn't make the front site stand out enough, it mills away with the sight anyway.

 

[BSA1]

I'll give the Meprolite a look.

As for fingernail polish I have tried about every color of paint and fingernail polish over the years. I considered drilling a shallow hole on the face of the front sight and filling it with neon paint. Actually that idea is still on the table but I want to exhaust other choices first as I want something brighter.

The height of the current rear sight will determine what front sight I use if I don't replace the rear sight. I can easily open the rear sight notch with a file.

 

[herrwalther]

As for fingernail polish I have tried about every color of paint and fingernail polish over the years. I considered drilling a shallow hole on the face of the front sight and filling it with neon paint. Actually that idea is still on the table but I want to exhaust other choices first as I want something brighter.

Looking at pictures of the P-64 I can see there really isn't much sight there to begin with. So my idea may or may not work. Either way it is worth a shot. I know one gun smith who does the fingernail polish trick. He mixes the polish with a little bit of model epoxy to make it harder to scrape off.

 

[Compound8.0]

The Meprolight is a night site for the most part and a bit pricy but still an improvement for you . Or you could go the fiber optics tube type which are also better for daylight shooting but a warning here they can be fragile and will break if struck just so and can be a problem with certain holsters . all that said I have also used and still use luminescent paint on my
Bricks ( Glocks just to clarify ) .

 

[ulflyer]

BSA: go to Dawson Precision and look at the fibre optics for a Kahr CW. They are made of steel and have two small round pins to fit the two holes used to secure the front sight.
Dawson sends you the sight, instructions, and a metal tool for bradding the pins, which are hollow and brad easily. I've installed them on two of my Kahrs. You can easily drill two holes in the P64 to fit, and with a round file, smooth off the brad that protrudes.

Or as suggested above, have a gunsmith machine a dovetail. Dawson makes both.

 

[BSA1]

Thanks. I'll check them out.

I have been searching Brownell's web site for sights along with closely examine the slide on the P-64 it is easy to see why this is a challenge. Due to the loaded chamber indicator channel the rib on the top of the slide isn't all that thick. Plus the front sight only measures. .072 -.078" tall.

 

[gazpacho]

Unless you are doing the milling yourself, changing the sights will get expensive. Also, quality gunsmiths seem to be way backed up with work, so it may take awhile.

I would consider SAA examples. Cut a notch for a front sight to be brazed in.

 

[BSA1]

gazpacho,

You are quite right about big name gunsmiths being booked up. Worse for me is even though I live near a large city I don't know of any true gunsmiths that have the experience and machinery for milling and cutting dovetails or slots.

Replacing the front sight is the easiest and cheapest way to go but it's low height is a big problem as a taller front sight will cause it shoot low. I have been thinking about building the height of the existing front sight up with JB Weld and then file the JB Weld down a little at a time to see how it affects the p.o.i. It is probably a longshot but it is cheap experiment.

 

[Jim Watson]

Mill (or file) a groove lengthways of the front sight blade. Cement in a piece of fibre optic rod.

There was once a kit with rod and glue sold for the purpose, but I have not seen it advertised in some time. There are so many ready made sights that it probably did not have enough sales for the vendor to bother with any more.