DIY gold bead front sight for 3900 pistols

[squidsix]

Nobody makes a gold bead replacement sight for these guns, that I know of.
So, make your own!
I removed the factory steel white dot front, drilled it out with a 2mm bit, the hollow for the white paint centers the drill bit very nicely.
I went all the way thru, because I wanted maximum surface area for adhering the pin.
Bought a 100 pack of 24k gold plated "beading pins" from Michaels for $9.
These fit the hole perfectly, and the long tail on the bead enables you to place it just where you like for soldering.
I ended up using a little flux on the pin, and filled the remainder of the hole with 2-part epoxy from gorilla glue.
All done. I think it looks pretty good, and will be more useful more of the time than the white dot.

 

[squidsix]

A few more pics. This was an awesome way to get a gold bead front for about ten bucks.

 

[kbm6893]

Looks great if you want a gold bead. To me the white stands out more. But this would be a great way to add fiber optic rods in place of the white. Couldn't solder it but I'm sure there's another way to permanently attaching it.

 

[squidsix]

I did one like this years ago to install a tritium vial in a rifle sight. I used epoxy and it held beautifully.

 

[The Kid]

I did basically the same thing on my 1006. I turned a flat faced brass bead with a tail in the lathe and drilled a blind 1/16" hole in my milling machine. It is secured with epoxy and hasn't moved in 7 years.

A fiber optic could be installed in a through hole. You put the rod through and mark it. Take it out and cut it so it sticks out approximately 1/16" on each end. Take a cigarette lighter and gently heat one end of the rod without actually touching the flame to it. It will bead up when it melts. Stick it through the sight and use the lighter to bead the other end until it is snug in place. Issue with that short of a fiber optic is there's not much room to cut a window in the top of the sight to let light in to give the illuminating effect to the rod. Unless you're pointing towards the sun or it's at your back it will be a very dull color without the center of the fiber exposed to the light. This is why fiber optics don't work very well in low light conditions.

 

[Tanners Owner]

That looks great. I'm a fan of the gold bead front sights. Congrats on a good job

 

[N-frame Smith]

That's exactly what I've been looking for. Thanks for the tip!

 

[JohnHL]

Clever, resourceful, dexterous (as usual).

Well done!

John

 

[tt66]

That is very nice !!

I am also a fan of a gold bead front sight. I have had one on my 5" 629 Classic for years. I recently sent the slide for my SA Ronin 45acp to Heinie Specialty for them to replace the fiber optic front sight and install their gold bead front sight. I have a Glock 26 slide boxed up to ship to them for a Slant Pro rear and gold bead front sight.

You did good. I wish that I had the skills to do that sort of thing.

Tim

 

[squidsix]

Update: Ran 300 rounds through the 3913 last week. Front sight still rock solid. This pistol still outperforms expectations, shooting as well as many larger guns and better than most.

 

[smitty_bs]

What kind of rear sight is that? Battlesight?

 

[squidsix]

Factory Novak that I cut a small ledge into, blackened the dots, and opened the square cut into a U-notch.

 

[xtrtsqrt11]

Looks very nice!