need help with 1911 adjustable rear sight

[47knuckle]

I bought a $200 project, and of course it didn't turn out as simple as I thought it would. Rear sight missing, but I thought a K frame or N frame sight would fit.

K frame sight tang too short, N frame too long, but thats just part of the problem. Smith target sight tangs are bent so that the tang lifts the sight up, while the adjustment screw pulls the sight down.

Whatever sight was mounted on this slide was manufactured to push the rear sight down, while the adjustment screw forced it up.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what rear sight I should be looking for?

 

[Muley Gil]

The N frame sight in the 3rd picture is a newer model. Try one with a square front. Warning: the screw hole in the front tends to differ as to location.

BTW, is that an aluminum frame? I built a full size 1911 on an aluminum frame back in 1981.

 

[steelslaver]

Although your to far down the road on this project, next time use a J frame sight. No need for the deep cut to hold the elevation stud that slides into and the K,L,N elevation nut screws down on. Which is what your slide is milled for How much length do you have from the sight elevation screw to the tang screw?

You probably need one for a 2 " model 15 as the had a longer tang than the normal K frames

The front tang screw distance changed from time to time and model to model. But you could also use a shorter tang and simply fill the slot in front of it with a piece off and old tang. Silver solder in place on a steel frame and use epoxy and staking on an aluminum frame.

 

[mikerjf]

Just a maybe - this is a new subject for me. Some of the Model 39’s have a similar looking adjustable rear sight on them; maybe a possibility? I’d like to learn more about this.