This past weekend I completed the semi-annual cleaning for all of my firearms. I'm not sure why, but in at least two situations I noticed that my 1911s had that "magic green rod" in the front sight, and in a few cases, the white high vis rear sight. IIRC, one of the goals here is to capture light in dark conditions to facilitate accurate shooting in low light conditions.

Then I seem to remember that the illumination power of those little light green rods diminishes with time, 10 years? and will need to be replaced.

I went to the manufacturer's website (HIVIZ(R) Shooting Systems | Manufacturing high quality firearm fiber optic and tritium sights ) and depending on the 1911 manufacturer, if the rod cannot be replaced, it can be over $100.00 to replace both the front and rear sights.

My questions here are related to the actual experiences, pro and cons, etc. for these sights, including difficulties in just the replacement of the luminescent rod. This would also include reasonable estimates of the service life. The front or rear sight would not have to be replaced, unless that is not an option.

Many thanks.

Bill

__________________
That's what we do!

I think you're confusing fiber optic sights with radioactive tritium gas lamp night sights.

The fiber optic rod type sights merely gather ambient light and concentrate that in a small spot on the end of the rod. These don't wear out and will continue to work so long as the fiber optic rod is clean and undamaged.

On the other hand Tritium gas lamps do grow weaker over time and eventually need replacing. To my knowledge, most manufacturers of these warrant them for 10-12 years however I have some over 20 years old that still glow, albeit weakly. Usually there is no need to replace the whole sight. When the lamps eventually grow too weak to see, the sights can be re-lamped. Tritium sights are marked with the year they were lamped and the manufacturer who lamped them... For example the night sights on my 4506 are marked "Trijicon H3 13" trijicon is the maker, H3 is the symbol for tritium and, 13 was the year they were lamped. They should be good to go for another 5 years for so. When they do grow weak I'll send them in to Trijicon for re-lamping.

Cheers
Bill

__________________
Because they don't make a .46

Bill,

Thanks for this information. It diminished my anxiety a bit.

I believe that I have both types. The first are usually light green or red plastic rods. From your post, no future problems here.

Earlier today I received this response from Hi Viz customer support "Our Colt sight is fiber optic only, fiber optic illuminates with light, the more light the brighter it is. It also comes with extra fiber but unless they are damaged they will not stop working." Guess I had to "come out of the closet" as a Colt 1911 owner some time, but heck that's what we had in Vietnam!

I went to the Springfield Armory website (I have one of their $3,100.00 PC 1911s that were first built to FBI and HRT standards (specifications), and then later offered to the public) with the description -

"• Low mount Novak rear sight w/matching dovetail front sight
• 3 dot tritium inserts in sights"

I do remember calling SA customer service and was informed that they have a lifetime warranty. When they dim I send them back to SA for re-lamping.

On a more positive note, thank goodness my Smith & Wesson revolvers AND my S&W 1911s don't have this problem!!!

Bill

__________________
That's what we do!

What companies are permitted to work with radioactive material are strictly regulated by the NRC. So far as I'm aware, only Trijicon is licensed to mess with tritium in the U.S. I can tell you Novak's sights are lamped by Trijicon and Trijicon will re-lamp dead sights for $57. I've had quite a few sight sets re-lamped, one merely has to request a return authorization here at this link:
Return Authorization - Trijicon, Inc.
Turnaround is usually about 10 days.

Not to worry... I have a few Colts in the closet too

Cheers
Bill

__________________
Because they don't make a .46