M1911 sight installation question

Jake 98c/11b · September 15, 2002, 08:03 AM

I have a friends M1911 that he wants different sights on. I have the tools but have never done one before, can someone give me a quick rundown? Seems pretty straight forward but, since this is not my gun, I don't want to be suprised by anything as I try to stake on a new frontsight.

George Stringer · September 15, 2002, 08:35 AM

Jake, use a dremel with a round burr and remove the staked part of the old stem from inside the slide. Normally doesn't take very much to do this. Take a large nail or drift punch and wrap with masking tape to use as a fulcrum. Grab the old sight with vise grips positioned over the fulcrum and pry it out. Get the dremel out again and using the same round burr remove a little more from the inside of the slide to give your new stem more "bite". Place the slide upside down in a padded vise and stake on the new sight. If the new sight has a tritium insert you'll need to protect it from crushing by making a slot in a piece of aluminum large enough for the sight blade to enter freely but the wings to rest on. Then you can stake without damaging the sight. George

Jake 98c/11b · September 15, 2002, 11:57 AM

Thanks George, that's about what I expected but it never hurts to ask.

September 15, 2002, 08:03 AM	#1
Jake 98c/11b Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 1999 Posts: 471	M1911 sight installation question I have a friends M1911 that he wants different sights on. I have the tools but have never done one before, can someone give me a quick rundown? Seems pretty straight forward but, since this is not my gun, I don't want to be suprised by anything as I try to stake on a new frontsight.

September 15, 2002, 08:35 AM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Jake, use a dremel with a round burr and remove the staked part of the old stem from inside the slide. Normally doesn't take very much to do this. Take a large nail or drift punch and wrap with masking tape to use as a fulcrum. Grab the old sight with vise grips positioned over the fulcrum and pry it out. Get the dremel out again and using the same round burr remove a little more from the inside of the slide to give your new stem more "bite". Place the slide upside down in a padded vise and stake on the new sight. If the new sight has a tritium insert you'll need to protect it from crushing by making a slot in a piece of aluminum large enough for the sight blade to enter freely but the wings to rest on. Then you can stake without damaging the sight. George

September 15, 2002, 11:57 AM	#3
Jake 98c/11b Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 1999 Posts: 471	Thanks George, that's about what I expected but it never hurts to ask.