Sight Enhancement Using Glow Paints or Iridescent Coatings on My Detective Specials

J

jackpine

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Have since been pondering the issue of my Colt Detective Specials, (mine are the shrouded ejector models) and other such vintage concealed carry revolvers as not ever going to be a consideration by the major laser sight manufacturers. The reasons are numerous but primarily because they are "old hat" and mostly because they are no longer produced thus requiring a brand new design in an embedded laser modular grip panel. And too bad really!
So the next best thing naturally speaking would be to enhance the front sight with either a glow paint or iridescent coating of some sort to make the front sight "come out of the shadows" so to speak.
So I did a web search of just such an upgrading of sorts and discovered a few very such applications based in the U.S. and the iridescent coating likely being the best choice. The only issue with it is that iridescent coatings are a flammable petroleum product which cannot be imported into Canada. Or at least that is my interpretation.
So my question is; who in Canada either markets and/or produces such an item?

And is this the correct forum to discuss this issue?
 
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I bought a small bottle of iridescent paint for painting fishing lures - think it was cabela's or bas pro, don't remember which
 
Thank You Gunnutz

[SIZE=3[COLOR="#000000"]]My sincere thanks to all of the respondents to my question as I definitely have a better idea of which direction to take. To bring older guns with very limited possibilities for fixed sight enhancement (illumination) are the options of either a paint application or putting a skilled gunsmith to the task of a complete front sight replacement thus costing a few more dollars and conceding to rendering a classic revolver or semi-auto less collectible by such a modification, even though they are 12-6's in my case.
Hey, we can always hope for the day when this asinine prohibitive classification system is trashed for something far more sensible than what was the brainless brainchild of our Liberal lawmakers.
I'll follow up with which ever path I take with the hope this might assist others with the same dilemma of low light sighting with very rudimentary fixed sights and older, aging eyes.
Again,
Thanks Gunnutz,
jackpine[/SIZE][/COLOR]
 
you can get the glow in the dark paint online (ebay) for pretty cheap
 
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Well I went the inexpensive phosphorus paints that can be had such as "Glo On" and it works satisfactorily. The only down side is that like any phosphorus to actually illuminate it must first be momentarily charged with light. Haven't taken to the range yet to test it's durability or adhesion qualities but that will follow.
 
I have some superluminova. Basically the best glow paint you can buy (and very hard to get). Same stuff used on rolexes, omegas etc. i put some on my norc 1911. While it does work fine after being charged with sunlight or a flashlight, it isn't really as useful as the tritium on my m&p 40.
 
Workable Solutions

IanC said:
I have trouble picking up my front site sometimes too so i filed it flat and put a dob of white nail polish on it. Problem solved for me.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much IanC for your contribution and willingness to help in this regard.
I also tried the white nail polish but found it just didn't help for low or no light conditions further exacerbating the problem of my aging eyes. I have however just acquired a kit from "Glow-On", a super concentrated phosphorescent paint, have applied to it to my Ruger SR1911's Novak style 3 dot sights with very good results.
I have also applied the Glow-On to my Walther PPK/S .380 for which there is little chance of the Crimson Trace Corp. ever resuming production on their laser grips for the Walther series of 12-6 compact pistols. The Glow-On paint here too at least gave me a better sight picture where I filled the very minuscule front dot sight and the rear perpendicular notch that now co-witness each other in varying levels of ambient to no light conditions very nicely. The down side to Glow-On is that they will not ship to Canada so having a buddy who works stateside was the solution on that. I understand that not everyone has such a connection.
I have since been informed by another very helpful Gunnutz member (thanks again) that the following link may also be a workable solution to this issue of hard to visually acquire sights on most any firearm and apparently they ship to Canada. After viewing the "Nitesiters" website and finding that their product consists of either a phosphorescent self-adhesive 1/16th or 1/8th inch (1.5 MM or 3 MM) diameter dot and/or same sized strip available in 4 colors that is easily applied after seeing their online video on how to do it. I am considering this application for my Colt Detective Specials (later variants) both having a ramped front sight.
Being very personally resistant to modifying my firearms with little to no possibility of reversing such a mod', especially guns that are near impossible to find parts for, I find these solutions to be acceptable over the alternatives.
I also must admit in all honesty that these solutions as I see them are acceptable even though they require a pre-charging from an independent light source such as ambient light, a flashlight or even from infra-red such as a laser. I believe that to be the only real downside to phosphorescent paints over a dedicated laser or tritium sights costing way more and if available for your particular gun. This was not an option for the Detective Specials or the Walther PPK/S.
I have already sent an e-mail to Nitesiters for further info.
http://www.nitesiters.com/Nitesiters_Handgun_Night_Sights.html
Should anyone just seeing this thread for the first time have another option or alternative to the problem of low light sighting acquisition, I'm still open to any and all ideas.
I wish to again extend my utmost appreciation to all Gunnutz members who have offered their help here as it is so much in the very spirit of this site for members to offer said help and advice. This is only 1 reason why Gunnutz.com is unique and surpasses anything else like it in Canada IMO.
CanadianGunnutz.com really IS something to be proud of as distinctly Canadian and I am most appreciative to be a member of this fraternity.
 
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