S&W 1911 45 cal. e-series

Paul Bernard · #1 03-21-2017, 08:24 PM

Does anyone know what size Allen wrench to use to loosen the set screw that holds the rear sight on? I have a set of metric and a set of fraction but they are both either too big or too small. Both sets look to be quite complete, I can't figure it out. Thanks.

armorer951 · #2 03-21-2017, 09:17 PM

I believe it's 1/16".

eahicks · #3 03-22-2017, 12:10 PM

Yeah I think most S&W rear sights use 1/16".

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BruceM · #4 03-23-2017, 02:36 AM

The odds are that even after you loosen the set screw, you will have difficulty moving or removing the rear sight without a special sight pushing tool. The sight will NOT just slide back and forth after the screw is loose. Work carefully.

Bruce

Paul Bernard · #5 03-23-2017, 08:55 PM

F.Y.I. Thanks Guys ! I found my problem. I had an unused set of KOBALT allen wrenches that I purchased a few years back from Lowes. I have always wondered about Kobalt tools and how accurate they were and how well they held up. These allen wrenches were NEVER used. Perfectly sharp clean ends that fit into the set screw. THE PROBLEM? I got my micrometer out and measured them. The 1/16" should have measured .0625 however it only measured .058. That's why it barely grabbed and just spun in the set screw. That's a major undersize. Then I measured the others a few sizes up and down and the same thing. Badly off size. Then I got out my old old set of craftsmen wrenches (kind of rusty), and put the 1/16" on the micrometer and wella!! A perfect .0625. Took that set screw right out in a split second, it was tight and had a dab of loctite on it from the factory, but it did not matter for the old used wrench had a perfect fit. Got my sight pusher out and all is re-adjusted and well. I don't mean to knock Kobalt but I have had a similar experience with a few other tools that were not up to par as they should have been. This set is going in the trash.

Mikey11 · #6 03-25-2017, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Bernard

F.Y.I. Thanks Guys ! I found my problem. I had an unused set of KOBALT allen wrenches that I purchased a few years back from Lowes. I have always wondered about Kobalt tools and how accurate they were and how well they held up. These allen wrenches were NEVER used. Perfectly sharp clean ends that fit into the set screw. THE PROBLEM? I got my micrometer out and measured them. The 1/16" should have measured .0625 however it only measured .058. That's why it barely grabbed and just spun in the set screw. That's a major undersize. Then I measured the others a few sizes up and down and the same thing. Badly off size. Then I got out my old old set of craftsmen wrenches (kind of rusty), and put the 1/16" on the micrometer and wella!! A perfect .0625. Took that set screw right out in a split second, it was tight and had a dab of loctite on it from the factory, but it did not matter for the old used wrench had a perfect fit. Got my sight pusher out and all is re-adjusted and well. I don't mean to knock Kobalt but I have had a similar experience with a few other tools that were not up to par as they should have been. This set is going in the trash.

Interesting you brought this up....I have a Browning Buckmark Contour. I was taking it apart for the first time to clean it (bought it used from Cabelas), aaaaand DAMMIT I could NOT find an allen key to fit the screw under the barrel. It's the one that's under the barrel and just above the trigger guard.

Gonna give those allen keys a good look over. Thanks for this post brother !