TT-33 sights

[Expendable Nate]

I know this isn't my first kick at the cat on the topic. So I was cleaning my tokerav today and the rear sight damn near slid right off in my hands. Could this mean I can easily upgrade my rear sight? Or is this just a common problem and I need to buy some lock tight

 

[Hitzy]

You can peen the edges and hammer it back in.....I have on occassion squared the rear notch (the U cut doesn't help with accuracy) with a small file...

 

[BCRider]

The slot may or may not fit correctly on some other sight. But with the sort of tricks described by Hitzy along with the potential for a little bit of detail file work you can fit pretty much anything to anything.

But be careful of the HEIGHT of any replacement rear sight. If you change the height at the rear you have to similarly change out the front. And that's not so easy what with it being a staked in front sight.

Even widening the rear "U" shaped notch has issues associated with it. If the front blade width isn't matched to the width of the rear sight's notch you'll have too much or no daylight showing along the sides of the blade when held out for the sight picture. Too much makes it hard to center the blade. Too little and you can't tell if you're centered or not.

So all in all I'd suggest you LIGHTLY tap the dovetail edges on the stock sight to make it tighter in the slide and then drift punch it back into place. Go easy here. A little deforming goes a long way to making things tight enough. If you can see the change at a glance it's probably too much. It's better to make 10 to 15 lighter taps to deform the metal than one big blow. The sort of tap we're talking about with the sight held in a padded vise would be the sort of thing that would hurt a little but not bruise your knuckle if you hit it with the hammer the same way.

 

[diananike]

I widened the u-notch on my tiny rear sight and spraypainted the front fluorescent orange.
Made a HUGE difference to the usability of the thing.
Just be careful not to file the rear unevenely on either side.

 

[stevebc]

Hmm. I didn't widen the U notch- but I did square off the rounded bits at the bottom of the U. I was also careful not to make the notch any deeper. As mentioned, it makes a big difference in the usability of the sights.

I like the fluorescent paint idea for the front sight- have to give that a try.

 

[diananike]

The sights on a Tok being what they are you dont have a ton of choices
I had a lot of trouble making out my sights, depending on the lighting
By widening the rear, I can now see light on either side of the front sight.
There was a lot of glare from overhead lights on the front sight at the range too, so the fluorescent paint helped cut that out too, in addition to the bright color to pick up quickly.

I wouldnt mind trying the same out on a Mak too... just cant decide to get a .380 or 9x18mm.....