Thinking of having some work done on my Colt

Playboypenguin · July 29, 2008, 08:23 PM

I am thinking of having the sights upgraded on my Colt Commander.

Is this something easily done. Does the smith mill the slide down to fit the sights or do you have to chose sights that will fit the standard slot?

I am also thinking of having a black skeletonized trigger installed.

Any idea what a decent smith would charge for this type of work?

Here it is as it looks now.

Wildalaska · July 29, 2008, 10:11 PM

PP if you want Novaks you need to do a new dovetail. If you want a dovetail front, same.

Trijis will drop in the rear, you can stake on a front. Trigger is an easy install

Cost...I know what I would charge ya......

WildhereisyourchanceAlaska TM

Scorch · July 30, 2008, 12:12 AM

I put Millett Mark 2 sights on my Combat Commander, no modification required.

tplumeri · July 30, 2008, 12:41 AM

Youre putting new sights on it so it will sell faster?

Billy Sparks · July 30, 2008, 06:30 AM

My suggestion.....ship to Wild he will do you right. As far as do you want Novaks or Trijicons...that is a personal choice. I have Novaks on several of mine but that is because either they were XSE's and as such already had a Novakish cut on the slide or the gunsmith made me a deal on some Novaks. Personnally I prefer Trijicons.

Hunter Customs · July 30, 2008, 08:21 AM

I always tell my customers they should decide what the intended use is of their gun before they decide to change things. Once this is decided it should help them in what may need changed, if anything at all does need changed.
Going by the size of the gun in the picture, it would be best used as a self defense, conceal carry and informal target shooting or plinking gun.
If what I listed above is the case and your gun and sights are regulated to point of aim, the sights you have on the gun will serve you well. As a matter of fact, for the intended uses I listed above I see them as some of the best.
You might find the money you would spend on new sights could be put to better improve the gun in other ways.
Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

Playboypenguin · August 1, 2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

the sights you have on the gun will serve you well.

yeah, the sights on it are okay but I would like something a bit beefier on the rear. I am thinking now of only changing the trigger to a skeletonized one.

WESHOOT2 · August 3, 2008, 02:53 PM

I tried eight different sight sets on my (now-long-gone) M20.

I've very recently tested differing sights on twoamy 1911s (one is the Caspian adjustable w/ ghost-ring blade, the other a Champion both-way adjustable serrated-rear 'Combat' sight).

I tried don't-remember-how-many rear sights on one of my Witnesses.

I have one 1911 with a 'skeletal' black plastic trigger, and one has a solid metal short version, and one has a longer short solid metal version (thank you, EGW), and one has a standard Springfield Armory 'Loaded' trigger (but not the gun it came in).

Deciding is so hard; then you get it, install it (or have it installed), only to find it less than ideal.
So you try another......

I now am mostly willing to change out my sights, but a professionally fit trigger is something I've not matched nor mastered.

I haven't even mentioned the revolvers LOL........

Testing required; test, then know.
ka-ching....but worth it.

Your results may vary.

Playboypenguin · August 5, 2008, 11:19 AM

Anyone have suggestions for sights that will be a bit beefier but not require machining the slide or for a good trigger?

WESHOOT2 · August 12, 2008, 12:05 PM

Get the Dawson Precision sight catalog; wander (endlessly) through the Brownells catalog.
The STI trigger is very good.

You can telephone either with technical questions....

July 29, 2008, 08:23 PM	#1
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	Thinking of having some work done on my Colt I am thinking of having the sights upgraded on my Colt Commander. Is this something easily done. Does the smith mill the slide down to fit the sights or do you have to chose sights that will fit the standard slot? I am also thinking of having a black skeletonized trigger installed. Any idea what a decent smith would charge for this type of work? Here it is as it looks now.

July 30, 2008, 12:12 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I put Millett Mark 2 sights on my Combat Commander, no modification required. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 3, 2008, 02:53 PM	#8
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	my eyes, my hands, my trigger finger, my god I tried eight different sight sets on my (now-long-gone) M20. I've very recently tested differing sights on twoamy 1911s (one is the Caspian adjustable w/ ghost-ring blade, the other a Champion both-way adjustable serrated-rear 'Combat' sight). I tried don't-remember-how-many rear sights on one of my Witnesses. I have one 1911 with a 'skeletal' black plastic trigger, and one has a solid metal short version, and one has a longer short solid metal version (thank you, EGW), and one has a standard Springfield Armory 'Loaded' trigger (but not the gun it came in). Deciding is so hard; then you get it, install it (or have it installed), only to find it less than ideal. So you try another...... I now am mostly willing to change out my sights, but a professionally fit trigger is something I've not matched nor mastered. I haven't even mentioned the revolvers LOL........ Testing required; test, then know. ka-ching....but worth it. Your results may vary. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 12, 2008, 12:05 PM	#10
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	yes Get the Dawson Precision sight catalog; wander (endlessly) through the Brownells catalog. The STI trigger is very good. You can telephone either with technical questions.... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

July 29, 2008, 10:11 PM	#2
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	PP if you want Novaks you need to do a new dovetail. If you want a dovetail front, same. Trijis will drop in the rear, you can stake on a front. Trigger is an easy install Cost...I know what I would charge ya...... WildhereisyourchanceAlaska TM

July 30, 2008, 12:41 AM	#4
tplumeri Junior member Join Date: September 26, 2007 Posts: 1,919	Youre putting new sights on it so it will sell faster?

July 30, 2008, 06:30 AM	#5
Billy Sparks Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1999 Location: Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Posts: 745	My suggestion.....ship to Wild he will do you right. As far as do you want Novaks or Trijicons...that is a personal choice. I have Novaks on several of mine but that is because either they were XSE's and as such already had a Novakish cut on the slide or the gunsmith made me a deal on some Novaks. Personnally I prefer Trijicons.

July 30, 2008, 08:21 AM	#6
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	I always tell my customers they should decide what the intended use is of their gun before they decide to change things. Once this is decided it should help them in what may need changed, if anything at all does need changed. Going by the size of the gun in the picture, it would be best used as a self defense, conceal carry and informal target shooting or plinking gun. If what I listed above is the case and your gun and sights are regulated to point of aim, the sights you have on the gun will serve you well. As a matter of fact, for the intended uses I listed above I see them as some of the best. You might find the money you would spend on new sights could be put to better improve the gun in other ways. Regards Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

August 5, 2008, 11:19 AM	#9
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	Anyone have suggestions for sights that will be a bit beefier but not require machining the slide or for a good trigger?