I wonder if a gold/brass insert in a front sight would be a possibility- like the XS white line (which I like) but in gold. A sliver of brass inserted into the blade could be flush with the top, rather than stopping short as the SDM bead does. And I guess the head of the SDM bead isn't "larger enough" than the shaft behind it that the blade itself could be milled down to allow the bead to sit right at the top.
In any case, Doug is going to be one happy fella when he gets that back