442 Front Sight

[JN40C]

I'm getting the classic older eye syndrome and it is harder and harder to pick up the dark blade sight on my 442. I've read of a number of people who have painted their front sight either orange or white and am curious as to what type of paint has been used. Was a sealant applied after the paint? Another item I have seen is a big dot night sight added but am not sure how they are applied since the 442 front sight is a fixed blade and not removable.

Your input is appreciated.

 

[arjay]

I found a bottle of neon green nail polish at Walgreens and it helps.A coat or two of white before the green makes it brighter.

 

[M29since14]

I've always just used model paint and touched it up as needed (rarely). I paint both the front blade and the notch milled in the frame for the rear sight. I use the same color for both but you could use contrasting colors if that appeals. Don't know of any way to put an XS big dot front sight on the 442s but it would be fairly simple on the newer models like the 340PD and 360PD that have the pinned blades. Have you called them to see what they suggest? Hamilton Bowen has a nifty little rear sight for J-frames that really increases visibility for those of us with older eyes. I'm not sure what he recommends for the front sight - maybe a plastic red ramp insert... ?

 

[M&P Freak]

Here's what I used on my 642. Painting the sight white first then orange really makes it stand out. The colors are Gloss White and Glow Orange, as found at my local hardware store. This has held up very well and I've got enough to repaint it a thousand times over if it needs it. Have yet to repaint in just over a year, it still looks great.

 

[shouldazagged]

Had an orange insert installed in the front sight of my EDC J-frame by a smith. Later I applied orange paint to the portion of the blade. Helped a lot--the sights were stainless-on-stainless.