Originally Posted by BMCM

If you're concerned about the possibility of losing a slide or two just bump the sights off and send them sans slide. Those sights are notoriously stubborn to get off. My recommendation is a brass drift punch and a copper hammer. The forces and shock loading imparted by knocking the slight off is nothing compared to the violent action they are subject to during live firing. Just don't hammer on the blade but direct your blows against the sight base.

I always use a copper hammer...With a copper head hammer, a missed blow will merely leave a copper crayon mark that can easily be wiped off with a copper solvent...Instead of a permanent dent.. Same deal with the brass drift punch...it'll leave some marks here and there which are easily wiped off with copper solvent.

You can see a bit of a brass "crayon mark" here just under the dovetail cut...


I have a couple sight pusher tools too including a factory S&W unit but they little use. Only when I need to make a precise windage adjustment do I use a pusher. otherwise, when removing or installing sights... A vise (jaws insulated to protect finish) and a brass drift with copper hammer.

Cheers
Bill