Sight Blackening

A piece of masking tape(not the blue stuff or green stuff) lit on fire works great

Birchwood Casey still makes the spray on sight black.

the tape trick does work very well

brownells still has it in stock.

Casey still list it on their site and shows it in stock

Thanks.  looks like the 3.5 OZ size I was searching is the one discontinued it is still offered in the 8.5 ounce size.

Carbide a non waxy flat black..

Carbide is the best solution. It leaves a very thin layer that is a really good flat black. Just don't do it right before the match. The flame is really really bright and messes up my vision for a while.

The spray can blackeners are thicker and build up if used repeatedly.

You can find carbide lamps on ebay or flea markets. RayVin and Gunsmoke make burners specifically for blackening sights. I don't know if the Gunsmoke one is still made. I can't find it, but a lot of web sites are blocked here at work.

RayVin Super Smoker

I use a zippo... It works but may not be the best.

I have a cabide super smoker that I've had for a lot of years for rifle.  Here is a link: http://ray-vin.com/tools/smoker.htm

I don't think the black from the aerosol can is as good visually as the smoke process.  But, here's a specific time when you need the spray.  A friend of mine was blackening his sight with a burner when a fellow shooter asked if he could do his, since he had never tried blackening before.  When my friend said, "sure," and applied the flame, the sight lit up and melted into a strange glob before they could get it out.  It turned out to be a plastic sight!

I use a dry erase pen, those that you use on a white board. Leaves a nice flat black, not messy at all, and takes up very little space in the pistol box.

Jon Math wrote:Thanks.  looks like the 3.5 OZ size I was searching is the one discontinued it is still offered in the 8.5 ounce size.

WalMart carries the larger size.  I ordered some last year and they delivered it to my local store, so no shipping charges.

https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=birchwood%20casey%20sight%20black&cat_id=4125

Keep 2 extra new spray cans in your gear.  Others always wanted to "borrow" mine.  Sell them one.

Ed Hall wrote:I don't think the black from the aerosol can is as good visually as the smoke process.  But, here's a specific time when you need the spray.  A friend of mine was blackening his sight with a burner when a fellow shooter asked if he could do his, since he had never tried blackening before.  When my friend said, "sure," and applied the flame, the sight lit up and melted into a strange glob before they could get it out.  It turned out to be a plastic sight!

Way too funny, wish I could have seen the look on that guys face as his gun started melting away:lol!:


But there is nothing that beats the carbide lamp. The Ray-Vin is expensive but very convenient and works in high winds like Perry. Not sure if I would be able to light electrical tape on fire on the line in those winds.

Had to be careful of the red inserts on model. 66 and 19,29!!!

Jon Math wrote:I guess I’m just old fashioned but I could never see the need for anything but black front posts and rear sights.  Dots, fiber optic tubes, dots, white outlines etc never did anything for me.

That was the only way Smith & Wesson sold most of their K and N frames back then....Red insert front sight.