painting rear sight marks on M1 Garand

DarthNul · November 13, 2014, 03:55 PM

I picked up an M1 Garand from the CMP recently, and while looking for info about rear sight dis-assembly I came across:

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/...ripsight3.html

and I really like the way the rear sight markings were much more readable on the rifle in those pictures because they were painted bright white.

Is there a technique for doing that successfully with such small details? I'm not interested in doing the serial number and other receiver stampings, just the elevation and windage scales.

I've found a bunch of youtube vids for filling in (much) larger details on pistol slides etc, but that didn't work so well with the tiny numbers on the Garand sights.

Should I use acrylic enamel paint, bright sight paint, or something else?

Dfariswheel · November 13, 2014, 08:05 PM

Armorers and gunsmiths use Lacquer-Stik from Brownell's.
This is paint in a solid stick form.

To use scrape the end with a knife to expose fresh material.
Degrease the parts with alcohol to remove oil and grease.
Rub the stick into the lettering until it's completely full.
Use a dab of lacquer thinner or mineral oil on a paper towel to remove the excess, leaving the lettering filled.

Allow to dry a few hours then lube the area to prevent rust.
This is a permanent fill but can be removed with lacquer thinner and a toothbrush.

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to...-prod7778.aspx

DarthNul · November 13, 2014, 09:56 PM

Thanks for the info!

Bart B. · November 14, 2014, 11:30 AM

I've used white crayons. Cheap.

Dragonflydf · November 26, 2014, 11:40 AM

I used White Out in a pen, fill the etching and let dry, wipe with a q tip dipped in hoppes then wipe with a paper towel.

See here
https://www.facebook.com/shoot.the.g...34658690107542

T. O'Heir · November 29, 2014, 02:58 PM

The entire thing is a peace time Army NCO quirk that really has nothing to do with anything but making the rifles sort of pretty in the weapons lock up. If you're into that kind of thing. However, any paint that will not dissolve in regular solvents will do. Testor's model paint, for example. Paint on, wipe off excess.

DarthNul · November 29, 2014, 03:44 PM

Thanks for all the info!

I went with the lacquer stick. I think it turned out petty well:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gqhexzdhlg...Fill2.jpg?dl=0

I got a red stick while I was at it (needed to get my money's worth out of the shipping charges). I tried it out on baby Sig:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rb85ag400s...gPic1.jpg?dl=0

I'm going to do the windage scale on my AR when I get it back from having it pinned.

dakota.potts · December 8, 2014, 02:37 AM

Always wondered how they did the red on the Russian leaf style sights. Thought about doing that myself.

November 13, 2014, 03:55 PM	#1
DarthNul Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 288	painting rear sight marks on M1 Garand I picked up an M1 Garand from the CMP recently, and while looking for info about rear sight dis-assembly I came across: http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/...ripsight3.html and I really like the way the rear sight markings were much more readable on the rifle in those pictures because they were painted bright white. Is there a technique for doing that successfully with such small details? I'm not interested in doing the serial number and other receiver stampings, just the elevation and windage scales. I've found a bunch of youtube vids for filling in (much) larger details on pistol slides etc, but that didn't work so well with the tiny numbers on the Garand sights. Should I use acrylic enamel paint, bright sight paint, or something else? __________________ The most feared gun control law proposal: Require buyers to register all gun purchases with their wives

November 13, 2014, 09:56 PM	#3
DarthNul Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 288	Thanks for the info! __________________ The most feared gun control law proposal: Require buyers to register all gun purchases with their wives

November 26, 2014, 11:40 AM	#5
Dragonflydf Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2014 Posts: 217	I used White Out in a pen, fill the etching and let dry, wipe with a q tip dipped in hoppes then wipe with a paper towel. See here https://www.facebook.com/shoot.the.g...34658690107542 __________________ Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!! https://www.facebook.com/shoot.the.guns.of.history

November 29, 2014, 02:58 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	The entire thing is a peace time Army NCO quirk that really has nothing to do with anything but making the rifles sort of pretty in the weapons lock up. If you're into that kind of thing. However, any paint that will not dissolve in regular solvents will do. Testor's model paint, for example. Paint on, wipe off excess. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 29, 2014, 03:44 PM	#7
DarthNul Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 288	Thanks for all the info! I went with the lacquer stick. I think it turned out petty well: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gqhexzdhlg...Fill2.jpg?dl=0 I got a red stick while I was at it (needed to get my money's worth out of the shipping charges). I tried it out on baby Sig: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rb85ag400s...gPic1.jpg?dl=0 I'm going to do the windage scale on my AR when I get it back from having it pinned. __________________ The most feared gun control law proposal: Require buyers to register all gun purchases with their wives

November 13, 2014, 08:05 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Armorers and gunsmiths use Lacquer-Stik from Brownell's. This is paint in a solid stick form. To use scrape the end with a knife to expose fresh material. Degrease the parts with alcohol to remove oil and grease. Rub the stick into the lettering until it's completely full. Use a dab of lacquer thinner or mineral oil on a paper towel to remove the excess, leaving the lettering filled. Allow to dry a few hours then lube the area to prevent rust. This is a permanent fill but can be removed with lacquer thinner and a toothbrush. http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to...-prod7778.aspx

November 14, 2014, 11:30 AM	#4
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	I've used white crayons. Cheap.

December 8, 2014, 02:37 AM	#8
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	Always wondered how they did the red on the Russian leaf style sights. Thought about doing that myself. __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.