I Need Rear Sight Idea's

Is there an adjustable rear sight that is able to fit into the rear sight dovetail of a Springfield Mil Spec 1911? I bought a Mil Spec on gun broker and I'm thinking of turning it into a hardball gun.

Ate you planning on keeping stock front sight? If yes you need a really low rear sight.
Jon

No the front sight will get replaced too. I actually just came across a rear and front sight Kensight makes for the GI or Mil Spec models. 

http://stores.kensight.com/kensight-compact-adjustable-sight-with-rounded-blade/

http://stores.kensight.com/70-series-colt-1911a1-tenon-staked-patridge-front-target-sight/

If staking on front sight you'll need jig/fixture to hold it while you stake it.
Jon

I would send the slide to Jon or somebody like for a dovetail front and Bomar type rear.  Ask first

The quality of the Kensight that is being made is just as good as a Bomar sight...if you can find one.

Tim

The Kensight is a perfect rear sight to use for your project.  Are you planning on staking, dovetail or silver solder your front sight?

kc.crawford.7 wrote:Tim

The Kensight is a perfect rear sight to use for your project.  Are you planning on staking, dovetail or silver solder your front sight?

I am trying to avoid shipping the gun to someone for cost reasons. A dovetail front sight would be nice but beyond my capabilities. As is silver solder. I don't know anything about that process. So if I could track down a good jig or tool then I had just planned to stake it my self.

I think all you would need to send is the slide. As such it is machine parts rather than a firearm. At least that is my understanding. Something that you didn't bring up. At one time Dave Salyer recommended the Milspec as the starting point for a wad gun. That way you weren't paying for NM sights you weren't going to use. Plus since you would be replacing the barrel and bushing with a Kart, there was less cost for the system. 

My ballgun is a Series 70 that has distinguished at least two other shooters. It's an old school Colt all the way with the exception of the BoMar sights.

All you would have to ship is the slide.  But you're going to have to drill and tap for the elevation screw.  The only staking tool I can recommend is this one from Brownells.  It would be cheaper for you to send the slide out than to buy the staking tool for just one job.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/sight-scope-installation-tools/sight-stakers/1911-sight-staking-tool-prod41513.aspx

Tim:  

I rarely weigh in on equipment recommendations, but if you're going to ship a slide and spend money to get a good adjustable rear sight installed (and a good milled low mount rear just looks right on a 1911 slide), then I would also just get a dovetail front sight done as well.  

In olden times, with real hardball, keeping some front sights staked on was just a pain the butt.  And a well installed dovetail, rounded properly, just looks great with a low mount rear.  And I've never had one of those come off.  

Also you get the option of replacing the rear blade and front sight with night sights should you choose to put the gun to a different use in the future. Just my opinion.  

CR

CR10X wrote:Tim:  

I rarely weigh in on equipment recommendations, but if you're going to ship a slide and spend money to get a good adjustable rear sight installed (and a good milled low mount rear just looks right on a 1911 slide), then I would also just get a dovetail front sight done as well.  

In olden times, with real hardball, keeping some front sights staked on was just a pain the butt.  And a well installed dovetail, rounded properly, just looks great with a low mount rear.  And I've never had one of those come off.  

Also you get the option of replacing the rear blade and front sight with night sights should you choose to put the gun to a different use in the future. Just my opinion.  

CR

I hear ya. And if it wasn't for this crazy idea I have for an "old school" looking hardball gun then yes dovetails and bomar sights would be the way to go. But I really want to learn to do some work on my own. One type of job at a time. Maybe eventually learn how to fit a barrel really good too. I even have some shark fin front sights and old micro rear sights I may use. But the kensight seems a bit better than the micro. So I don't know yet. But the "old" look is what I'm going for. It will more than likely be for fun more than competive.

Get the book by Jerry Kuhnhausen and tou should be able to figure out how to stake a front sight.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:Get the book by Jerry Kuhnhausen and tou should be able to figure out how to stake a front sight.
Jon

I have volume one already!

At the risk of committing heresy, how about one of the industrial adhesives...aka super glue?  I've seen scope bases glued to single shot barrels and it was robust and neat.  I've used Black Max for some projects but not sights.  

Dave

UtahDave wrote:At the risk of committing heresy, how about one of the industrial adhesives...aka super glue?  I've seen scope bases glued to single shot barrels and it was robust and neat.  I've used Black Max for some projects but not sights.  

Dave

I'm actually looking forward to buying a staking tool and learning how to do it, doing it myself, and enjoying the finished product with the satisfaction of taking care of it on my own.

I both silver solder and stake my front sights.. A very easy silver solder to use is Brownells Force 44... If you can solder at all, you can use it.