Colt 1911 (repro 70) front sight removal/installation ???

Pietro Beretta

Pietro Beretta

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My front sight is a little loose and scratched, and I have a factory replacement that I want to install. Should I go to my smith, or is this an easy process I could do myself?

I was thinking to carefully clamp the loose front sight and gently tap it out...then place the new factory front sight in the slot, and gently tap it in.

Is that totally wrong???
Should I just go to my smith?

Thanks.
 
It's a morticed sight, so the old one has to be ripped out carefully, and the new one has to be held tight to the slide and peened into the bevel from the underside.

It can be done at home, but for the few dollars involved, send it to Gunnar.
 
Goto w ww.blindhogg.com then goto "gunsmithing" he has instructions on things like this. Just remember it doesn't always work right, even the factory can't always make it fit tight and stay that way.
 
You'll likely need to fit the sight to your slide in one way or another.

For the experience, I'd go at it myself. Not that hard to understand what's needed to do a descent job. You may need a special tool to peen the new sight under the slide.... and some very fine files.

Go at it with a positive attitude and you'll do fine.

If you're not comfortable with the process, or do not have the appropriate tools, see a smith for the 30$ he'll charge you.
 
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Easy job, do it yourself. Old one will pull off easy with vice grips etc. When fitting the new one, add a spot of Loctite to the hole and peen the stud head with an old pin punch. Support the top of the sight on a flat bit of metal as you peen. Use a very small fine file to flatten the peened head so the barrel collet will fit back in again.
 
"...I would be devistated..." Peening isn't as easy as it sounds. It's an odd angle to get at the pin. However, there's no need to feel devastated if you try it and it doesn't work. Silver solder will secure it. You'll have to remove the bluing on the soldering spot first though. Emery cloth will do that easily.
 
Colt has used 2 different sizes of tenons. Don't know which size is correct for a '70.
Basically, remove the original, clean up the seat, slot and swaging recess inside the slide. Fit the new sight, tap it solidly into position. Grab the slide in the vice with padded jaws, front sight firmly against the bottom of the vise. Use a rivetting tool to upset and swage the tenon into the recess in the slide. As has been mentionned, a low temp. silver bearing solder can be used as well. If a high temp. solder is used, might be necessary to refinish the slide.
 
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