1911 front sight

auberg · May 23, 2007, 06:48 PM

Okay guys, I need your help again. I have a '70 series Government Model that I have had since '92. I bought it used, it came with a set of sights on it that I don't believe are factory. The front has an orange blade, and the rear has a (for lack of a better term) "U" shaped white outline in the back.

I was at the range and probably put 10 to 12 rounds through it before the front sight came off. I was lucky to find it, but it looks like it actually broke at the base. Since I found it behind the firing line, (by about 10 feet) I would imagine it came off on recoil. All of that being said, is this something that happens "fairly" often? and since the front sight is now worthless, what should I use to replace it?

Thanks!!

Sarge · May 23, 2007, 07:12 PM

Similar thread with some good info here.

jamesl · May 23, 2007, 07:12 PM

It is pretty common especially if its a norrow tenon. The best thing to do would be to have it dove tailed or if you want to save some money you can just have a new front sight stacked on.

kcshooter · May 23, 2007, 07:47 PM

Yeah, the 70 series had issues with this, they are all narrow tenon. That's why the 80 series went to the wide tenon. On a 70 series, dovetail cuts aren't a bad idea unless you want to keep it stock. If your interested and want to keep it stock, I have a pair of MeproLight tritium night sights that will fit it that I'll let go for $40 bucks, shipped. I also have a set of plain 3-dots for $25 shipped. Your local 'smith should be able to install them for about 10 or 20 bucks more.
It's the hammering of the slide vs the small piece of metal mounted into the slide that makes these break off. It sounds like you had a pair of Millet fixed sights installed on it. They have the orange front/white outline rear. Good sights but depending on how much you shoot, they all break at some point, usually not until thousands and thousands of rounds though.

auberg · May 23, 2007, 07:59 PM

Okay, enlighten me on what you mean by "dovetailing". I think I understand, but want to know for sure.

BTW, thanks for the good info.

kcshooter · May 23, 2007, 11:09 PM

They are cuts into the slide like the rear slide.

jamesl · May 24, 2007, 06:27 PM

kcshooter has a pretty good deal their and a local smith will probley make a dovetail cut for $40-50

kcshooter · May 24, 2007, 06:34 PM

No, the MeproLights and 3-dots are for the standard narrow tenon 70 series front, if you cut the slide, I don't have anything but plain black blades from a Kimber.
If you want to retain it's stock factory appearance my sights would work and it would be $20 or less for a 'smith to install 'em

auberg · May 24, 2007, 08:58 PM

Thanks guys. It all makes sense. I just had never seen this happen.

KC, I sent you a PM about the night sights.

Thanks to all again.

May 23, 2007, 06:48 PM	#1
auberg Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2005 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 243	1911 front sight Okay guys, I need your help again. I have a '70 series Government Model that I have had since '92. I bought it used, it came with a set of sights on it that I don't believe are factory. The front has an orange blade, and the rear has a (for lack of a better term) "U" shaped white outline in the back. I was at the range and probably put 10 to 12 rounds through it before the front sight came off. I was lucky to find it, but it looks like it actually broke at the base. Since I found it behind the firing line, (by about 10 feet) I would imagine it came off on recoil. All of that being said, is this something that happens "fairly" often? and since the front sight is now worthless, what should I use to replace it? Thanks!! __________________ "I don't have to like it, I just have to do it."

May 23, 2007, 07:12 PM	#2
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	Similar thread with some good info here. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

May 23, 2007, 07:59 PM	#5
auberg Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2005 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 243	Okay, enlighten me on what you mean by "dovetailing". I think I understand, but want to know for sure. BTW, thanks for the good info. __________________ "I don't have to like it, I just have to do it."

May 24, 2007, 08:58 PM	#9
auberg Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2005 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 243	Thanks guys. It all makes sense. I just had never seen this happen. KC, I sent you a PM about the night sights. Thanks to all again. __________________ "I don't have to like it, I just have to do it."

May 23, 2007, 07:12 PM	#3
jamesl Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: nw arkansas Posts: 31	It is pretty common especially if its a norrow tenon. The best thing to do would be to have it dove tailed or if you want to save some money you can just have a new front sight stacked on.

May 23, 2007, 07:47 PM	#4
kcshooter Junior member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Posts: 439	Yeah, the 70 series had issues with this, they are all narrow tenon. That's why the 80 series went to the wide tenon. On a 70 series, dovetail cuts aren't a bad idea unless you want to keep it stock. If your interested and want to keep it stock, I have a pair of MeproLight tritium night sights that will fit it that I'll let go for $40 bucks, shipped. I also have a set of plain 3-dots for $25 shipped. Your local 'smith should be able to install them for about 10 or 20 bucks more. It's the hammering of the slide vs the small piece of metal mounted into the slide that makes these break off. It sounds like you had a pair of Millet fixed sights installed on it. They have the orange front/white outline rear. Good sights but depending on how much you shoot, they all break at some point, usually not until thousands and thousands of rounds though.

May 23, 2007, 11:09 PM	#6
kcshooter Junior member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Posts: 439	They are cuts into the slide like the rear slide.

May 24, 2007, 06:27 PM	#7
jamesl Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: nw arkansas Posts: 31	kcshooter has a pretty good deal their and a local smith will probley make a dovetail cut for $40-50

May 24, 2007, 06:34 PM	#8
kcshooter Junior member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Posts: 439	No, the MeproLights and 3-dots are for the standard narrow tenon 70 series front, if you cut the slide, I don't have anything but plain black blades from a Kimber. If you want to retain it's stock factory appearance my sights would work and it would be $20 or less for a 'smith to install 'em