Model 27 Front Sight - Can't See It

[BAM-BAM]

If you get glasses made that permit you to see both your sights and target clearly you won't need paint and paint won't help you see anything clearly. You'll be able to see the sight but no more clearly than without the paint.

Why do people resist fixing a problem correctly? Remember the old adage about not being able to hit what you can't see?

Ed

We get old and the eyes go.............................

The paint will help with quick; snap,close, defensive shots.......

the right glasses will be good at the range or when you have them on......but most of us don't/can't wear the right glasses all the time!

 

[Abbynormal]

I've had the same problem for the past few years. I didn't want to modify my classic Smiths, so I painted the fronts and had White outline rear sights put on. I also bought extra sets of rear sight screws and kept the old solid black sights.

I've found for painting front sights:

Use acetone and a toothbrush to deeply clean the serrations of the blade

Use blue 3M painters tape on the side of the sights and to limit the area you paint

I use white fingernail polish (2 coats) drying 2 hours between coats

Then I use Testers Fluorescent red paint (keep applying coats until completely covers blade serrations

Lastly, after letting the Testers dry 24 hours, I put 2 or 3 coats of clear nail polish.

This lasts for 2-3 years for me without having to touch up

Just be careful in keeping solvent off the front sight blade when cleaning

 

[AveragEd]

We get old and the eyes go.............................

I get that. I'm 68 but I don't blame my inability to see my sights, computer monitors and printed material well on the item - the problem is in my eyes so that's where I address my efforts to repair the problem. I have reading glasses for my desktop and ones for my laptops (those monitors wind up being different distances from my eyes), my reading Rx in my "regular wear" bifocals and the shooting glasses Dr. Morgan made for me. Why paint front sights and modify rear sights when they aren't the problem??? Fix that problem the same way you fixed the problem you have reading and using your computers - with the correct glasses.

Ed

 

[BAM-BAM]

I get that. I'm 68 but I don't blame my inability to see my sights, computer monitors and printed material well on the item - the problem is in my eyes so that's where I address my efforts to repair the problem. I have reading glasses for my desktop and ones for my laptops (those monitors wind up being different distances from my eyes), my reading Rx in my "regular wear" bifocals and the shooting glasses Dr. Morgan made for me. Why paint front sights and modify rear sights when they aren't the problem??? Fix that problem the same way you fixed the problem you have reading and using your computers - with the correct glasses.

Ed

If you read all of my post I do say that the proper glasses are the best solution ........ but.... recognizing that we don't/can't wear the right glasses 24/7/365 ...... painting the front sight can help you get a "better/faster" flash sight picture in a defensive shooting situation!

The 'Eagle Eye" glasses I mention in my first post are what I would wear if I was a "officer" on duty......... as they allow me to focus on my sights when shooting but do not interfere with my normal; slightly far sighted, vision!

 

[drummer007]

I am nearly 67. My eyesight started to change for the worse over 20 years ago. Since then, I have tried painting front sights, using green fiber optic front sights (they help), prescription glasses and scopes and dot sights. Scopes and dot sights turn lithe and finely balanced handguns into top heavy 2x4's. And holsters for scoped handguns - forget it. No more fast work.

Best thing I ever did was going to see an Ophthalmologist at the beginning of this year. I said an Ophthalmologist, not an Optometrist. An Ophthalmologist is a physician (MD/MBBS or D.O., not OD or BOptom) who has completed a college degree, medical school, and residency in ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists are both surgical and medical specialists. An Ophthalmologist can treat/cure all kinds of eye problems. Cataracts are fixable, Lasik can perform wonders and surgery can be miraculous.

13 years ago I was told I had a fairly rare eye disease (called Salzmann's) that was basically untreatable and would probably get worse. So I forgot about it. In desperation, in January of this year I went to see the Ophthalmologist who cured my wife's eye problems 20 years ago with Lasik. After my eye exam, she tells me that my Salzmann's can now be treated through surgery.

Had surgery done on my left eye in February (2015) and it is like going back 30 years. I can now see the handgun's front sight (and target) clearly out of my left eye !! Since I was always right handed but left eye dominate, I can again shoot handguns like I did up until my left eye started going bad 25 years ago. I am having my right eye done 6/18/15. When it heals, I expect to be able to accurately shoot iron sighted rifles again !!

I cannot stress too much - GO SEE AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST. Ask around for references. If you find one that is booked 3 to 6 months into the future - THAT IS THE ONE YOU WANT. The good ones are heavily booked. It may take 3 to 6 months to get an appointment with them.

Yes, Ophthalmologists can cost more than nail polish or fiber optic front sights, but having your vision fixed - being able to see as well or better than you did 20 to 30 years ago - is priceless.

And a miracle.

 

[6518John]

^^^100 Likes.

After seeing the Ophthalmologit I feel like my eyes are 18 years old again. I only wish I could say the same for the rest of me!

 

[AveragEd]

I couldn't agree more. I went to seven ophthalmologists in search of a cure for a vision problem before I found doctor number eight, who determined my eye problem actually was a sinus problem. He also gives me an eye exam every year which my health insurance carrier (Aetna Medicare) covers and those exams are THE most thorough eye exam I've ever had. They take an hour instead of the 10 minutes to which I was accustomed. With optometrists, my distance Rx has been +1.50 for several years but his Rx reads something like +1.75-.25 plus more numerics I don't recall or understand. Bottom line - I can see better!

Ed