Help with S&W front sight

[Odinkar]

I was hoping someone can tell me the size of the front sight on my S&W 1911. I bought a TRUGLO Tritium/Fiber-optic sight to replace the ones that came with the gun. I have a sight that is .260 for the front but is to big for the dove tail. I'm trying to see what the size is so I can order one or see if I need to have the cut redone. This is a pistol I won in 2007 not a newer one. Don't know if that makes a difference.
Any help would be great!

 

[armorer951]

I'm not sure I completely understand your request, (S&W front sight base is .250" x 74° BTW) but if you have purchased the new sight that is the correct height, and the sight base is a bit too big, couldn't you carefully modify the sight base to fit the dovetail in the gun?

Modifying the sight base to fit would preclude cutting the dovetail in the slide of your 1911, and the resulting inevitable negative impact on the gun's value if you do so.

 

[Odinkar]

Thanks for the reply. The height of the sight above the slide isn't the issue. It is getting it into the base on the slide. The base on the Truglo doesn't look like I would be able to modify it without finding a local gunsmith. I was hoping to find a tritium sight to help me see the front sight. I'm going to call S&W and see if they can help.

 

[mckenney99]

Almost all dovetailed replacement front sight bases are slightly oversized and require fitting to your pistol's dovetail. Sometimes you get lucky and they can be installed as is, but my experience has been that is rare. Most require that material is CAREFULLY/SLOWLY removed from the bottom of the sight base until it can be pushed by hand 1/3 to 1/2 of the way into the slide's dovetail, then it can be pressed or drifted firmly into it's final position. Go slowly and test fit the base after every few strokes across the file, stone or emery cloth.

 

[epj]

Almost all dovetailed replacement front sight bases are slightly oversized and require fitting to your pistol's dovetail. Sometimes you get lucky and they can be installed as is, but my experience has been that is rare. Most require that material is CAREFULLY/SLOWLY removed from the bottom of the sight base until it can be pushed by hand 1/3 to 1/2 of the way into the slide's dovetail, then it can be pressed or drifted firmly into it's final position. Go slowly and test fit the base after every few strokes across the file, stone or emery cloth.

This is spot on advice. I will add that S&W uses proprietary dovetails, and that even the guns with Novak branded sights use these dovetails. You need to be sure that the sight is the correct one and just oversized. Particularly make sure of the proper angle.

 

[Odinkar]

Well I decided that since it wouldn't fit my pistol I would send it back but Amazon wouldn't take it. I was looking in my gun safe and got to looking at my Coonan. The rear sight slide right in. The front needed a couple of swipes with a file and went right in. Just got my sights from Meprolight so will put them on my 1911 when I get home from work.