Are Norinco's clones of pre=1988 or post-1988 Colts?

[Luckyorwhat]

Looking for a new sight, but my manual doesn't say which gun it's a copy of My brain tells me it's pre-1988, but maybe someone here knows for sure?

http://www.hivizsights.com/Close-Out-Items-C8.aspx

P.S. How hard is it to change a front sight?

 

[Canuck223]

The Norc's don't have the stupid collet bushing or firing pin safety.

A 1911 staked front sight isn't impossible to do yourself, but for the small amount involved, send it to Gunnar and get it done right. You only get one chance.

 

[Luckyorwhat]

So it's not simple like popping the old one out and pushing the new one in? Is there metal work required?

 

[cantom]

So it's not simple like popping the old one out and pushing the new one in? Is there metal work required?

I think it needs to be peened over. Should get it done right, don't want it flying off during a match...

 

[Canuck223]

It's very much like peening a rivit, only you have to do it with either a special offset tool, or take your chances with an angles approach.

 

[coltfan]

you need a staking tool...similar to this....
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=13163&title=1911+AUTO+SIGHT+STAKING+TOOL

 

[Geoff B]

I just did one on my Norinco 1911. Glad I got 2 for $15 each. The staking tool helps, but I think if I had it to do over, I pay for a pro to do it. What they don't tell you (again, a pro would know) is that the front sight on the 1911 is narrower and lower than the Hiviz fiber optic sight and your rear sight is too low and has too narrow an opening. My gun shoots 6" low at 15 yards, so I have ordered an adjustable rear sight from Gunnar to correct the problem. The front sight is very pretty, though.
The Norinco 1911 has the "narrow tenon".