Replacement (wider) blade for Elliason rear sight

Grreetings,

I've scoured the internet and figured it's time to ask: does anyone know if is there a replacement rear sight blade for the Elliason rear sight?  My Nelson conversion has one.  I'm considering making my Springfield RO into a .22/.45 combination with a dedicated lower for two gun competition, but the Elliason rear sight on my Nelson is too narrow and the sight picture is distinctly different.  If I'm going to take that path, I want a consistent sight picture.

Eventually, putting a similar dot sight on both would be a solution.  But for now, I'm just looking to see if anyone makes a replacement rear blade for the Elliason rear sight?



Stan

Greetings,

You might come out ahead buying a used Eliason rear sight assembly on eBay. Then, with a small swiss file, modify the notch to the width/depth you desire.

Replacing the blade is a lot of work.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks Dave,

I think I am looking for a unicorn.  I've found some thin abrasive stones at McMaster-Carr that may be suitable to enlarge the rear sight notch.  It would require a bit of patience to make that work, but that's OK.

Stan

I think you have better luck with needle files with a safe edge.

That is something to consider.  I've got multiple swiss files that could do the job.  I was considering  400 grit thin (1/16") stones to limit the material removed on each pass. 

The 'trick' would be protecting the base of the sight from the stone, but some Scotch packing tape may fix that.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Try the kart xact fit lug file... that's what I use to open up rear sight notches... that, or a 1/8" end mill in the bridgeport...

I used one of my small (Chinese) Swiss files with Oxpho-Blue as a marking solution and even strokes on each side to open up the notch.  It looks better to my eye now.  I've got that Kart lug file, but didn't think about using it.  I may if I want to open that notch up a bit more (and I may).  Thanks for the suggestions folks!

Order a new rear from Larry.

He corrected me on the other thread.  Here are the new dimensions.

Our rear sight notch is .118" wide x .116" deep.  We only miss the Kensight Deep Notch Rear by about 0.004"

I appreciate the quality of components Larry uses in his Nelson conversions.  I'm about 99.9% certain the Elliason/Accro rear sight is what is in mine.  Taking Dave's advice and getting another sight (Ebay, ect.) to alter is more prudent, but if I goof this up I'll order another from Brownell's for $50 since I seem to be constantly ordering something from them anyway.  My filing took the sight notch width to 0.123".

I opened mine up to .140" with a small safe edge file. I filed a few strokes and measured with calipers to keep the notch centered.