1911 Rear Sight Removal .

[RDevigne]

Hi there,

I am having a heck of a time removing the rear sights on one of my Norc Goverments. I have Drop in Novak Sites to put in their stead but I can't get the bugger to eveb budge using a punch and hammer. I know I can buy these nifty sight removers from Brownells. But ####!! 599$ fot a sight remover!!! I almost crapped myself. I did however see they had cheaper ones that were model specific and i could pick one up for 105$ USD which is still an insane price for what the product actually does. I was curious if any of you guys have found a trick to remove those really really tight rear sites without resorting to buying a "rear site remover" vise .

I was thinking of maybe getting a smaller C clamp and clamp the rear sight. Then maybe somehow find another type of vise that once the slide could be firmly mounted on something clamp on the C clamp and move the sights out. Kinda like creating a home version of the tool. However, I have no idea what i could even use to make this work

ANy help is much appreicated

 

[Pepperpopper]

Well, not to ruin your gun, but what about a little heat, followed by some WD40?

After that gently heat the slide like on a coffee maker hot plate, and then hit the sight with some ice in a water proof bag?

You could probably rig a drill press to hold the part, and use a piece in the press chuck to push on it.

You could also possibly blow up the part, by drilling or grinding, but given what it takes to get new sights legally these days...

If you have heavy machine tools like mills etc. You can often use the vise and the chuck just like a specialty fixture

 

[gunasauras]

Put the slide in the freezer overnight, then pull it out, secure in a padded vise, and hammer it out using a brass drift and a 1.5 lb ball peen.....or, try heating the old sight up carefully with a torch or electric soldering iron.....

 

[Can-down]

Is the slide in a vise? What kind of punch are you using?
Maybe some penetrating oil will help....
Are you drifting it out towards the left side?

 

[RDevigne]

I've tried both the right and left side, no movement at all. I had the slide wedged in a tight vise using a workign table i have and I was using a standard punch with a standard hammer. I then tried a thinner tipped punch in hopes that it might better centralize the impact power but nothing.

Im not sure i understand the ice in the bag trick :O

I think im going to rig up my own site remover. By looking at the ones that sell at Brownells for those ridiculous prices. It does not look like rocket science to make something up similar. I have a few ideas floating around in my head. If i end up with something cool, Ill post and show how i made it so that everyone can avoid paying 600 USD for a decent sight remove.. ( ridiculous ) IF i fail, I can always use some of your idea by soaking the area with penetrating oil a little heat and a sledge hammer

thanks for the input guys.

Cheers.

Rob

 

[mlebler]

I have the same problem, so before I start a new thread.......has anyone successfully gotten the rear sight to come out, without the use of expensive tools???? Please share

 

[Geoff B]

1911 Rear Sight Removal

I have the same problem, so before I start a new thread.......has anyone successfully gotten the rear sight to come out, without the use of expensive tools???? Please share

I put the slide in a vise, padded with thick leather and pounded it out left to right with a 5/8" brass drift and a 3 lb hammer.
Geoff

 

[monkeycanada]

If the sights is in that tight the only thing you can do is go down to a local engineering shop and get them to push it out with an hydraulic press. A lot of makers put sights in with a hydraulic press and generally this is not an issue, but it can be. I would not large hammer method, can work, but can also screw up your slide.