Injury to insult

John D. · 10-31-2004, 09:13 PM

RK,

The front sight on a Colt 1911A1 is staked on. You can use a drift to re-stake unless the leg is broken off, in which case, you'll need a new front sight with a new tenon. The factory used a "V" crimp tool, which spread the tenon at the base. After that, it was smoothed for the bushing to fit without interference.

Kimber, Dan Wesson, STI and a few others have used a larger tenon on the front sight - or a bevel cut in the front of the slide over the past few years (which is pinned without a tenon), but they vary on the machine cut.

As well - a few custom manufacturers (Wilson, Baer, etc.) have experimented with a crimp and dual-crimp front sight - ala MMC design. You can see what those "crimped designs are, as the front sight will have a "round hole" as the stake-in point - rather then a "slot". As well - the tenon will differ depending on model and sight height.

Just an FYI.

John D.

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10-31-2004, 09:13 PM	#10
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 478 Thanked 517 Times in 129 Posts	RK, The front sight on a Colt 1911A1 is staked on. You can use a drift to re-stake unless the leg is broken off, in which case, you'll need a new front sight with a new tenon. The factory used a "V" crimp tool, which spread the tenon at the base. After that, it was smoothed for the bushing to fit without interference. Kimber, Dan Wesson, STI and a few others have used a larger tenon on the front sight - or a bevel cut in the front of the slide over the past few years (which is pinned without a tenon), but they vary on the machine cut. As well - a few custom manufacturers (Wilson, Baer, etc.) have experimented with a crimp and dual-crimp front sight - ala MMC design. You can see what those "crimped designs are, as the front sight will have a "round hole" as the stake-in point - rather then a "slot". As well - the tenon will differ depending on model and sight height. Just an FYI. John D.