New guy here, first post actually. Just bought a new model 10 and have noticed on youtube that some guys have what appears to be a stripe of orange paint on the lehgth of the front sight rib of their model 10 . Is this factory or aftermarket paint?
Orange paint on front sight question
- Thread starter Oldt102
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Not factory for sure. Most likely finger nail polish. I am not kidding. Factory makes a small dove tail cut and fills it with a colored plastic.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
I have used Testor's model paint on mine before, and color is personal preference but I always favored bright orange.
Always use a white base coat. I like florescent red model paint
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Messages
- 9,320
- Reaction score
- 11,582
Try it without any paint first. If you then try the paint, you might find no difference. This was a 1970s fad that may still have some advocates. If you have vision problems, it may be beneficial. YouTube might not be the best source much of the time.
Front sight paint
I use white nail polish base coat and florescent red model paint. I've also used lime green nail polish for top coat. Apply with a toothpick and don't put a lot on at first start with just a drop. Don't use the brush from the bottle you'll make a mess!
I have a set of headband magnifiers that helps a lot. It takes a little practice to come out perfect but no harm or foul if you mess up - clean off with nail polish remover and try again. Total improvement of sight picture for me. I have a hard time with black on black sights.
I use white nail polish base coat and florescent red model paint. I've also used lime green nail polish for top coat. Apply with a toothpick and don't put a lot on at first start with just a drop. Don't use the brush from the bottle you'll make a mess!
I have a set of headband magnifiers that helps a lot. It takes a little practice to come out perfect but no harm or foul if you mess up - clean off with nail polish remover and try again. Total improvement of sight picture for me. I have a hard time with black on black sights.
Attachments
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Messages
- 19,872
- Reaction score
- 31,882
Testor's model paint in the 1 ounce bottle comes in a plethora of colors and gloss values. IMHO it is better than nail polish (more durable). It cost about $2 bucks a bottle and will last just about forever. Please see hints below:
* mix paint or polish well prior to application
* clean front sight with alcohol and do not touch it after cleaning
* apply paint or polish with a wooden toothpick (not a brush)
* apply 3 thin coats instead of a thick one
* only paint area that would normally have the red insert in it
* do not try to clean up overage until the job is all finished
* when all dry, clean up edges with a razor blade
* if you don't like the color, simply remove with a razor blade and choose another one.
I used to cut dovetails in the front sights but haven't done than in decades! I find that the Testpr's paint is brighter, lasts a long long time, gives you the ability to remove it and restore front sight back to Factory if selling the gun, and there is no chance a novice will destroy the front sight blade which can not be replaced most of the time because it is integral with the barrel.
Before spending much more money on a dovetailed front sights with colored plastic inserts, TRY THIS FIRST! It's only a $2 proposition so there is no down side!
* mix paint or polish well prior to application
* clean front sight with alcohol and do not touch it after cleaning
* apply paint or polish with a wooden toothpick (not a brush)
* apply 3 thin coats instead of a thick one
* only paint area that would normally have the red insert in it
* do not try to clean up overage until the job is all finished
* when all dry, clean up edges with a razor blade
* if you don't like the color, simply remove with a razor blade and choose another one.
I used to cut dovetails in the front sights but haven't done than in decades! I find that the Testpr's paint is brighter, lasts a long long time, gives you the ability to remove it and restore front sight back to Factory if selling the gun, and there is no chance a novice will destroy the front sight blade which can not be replaced most of the time because it is integral with the barrel.
Before spending much more money on a dovetailed front sights with colored plastic inserts, TRY THIS FIRST! It's only a $2 proposition so there is no down side!
Paint all my black front sights with Testor's bright yellow paint. On stainless guns a red or orange would be my choice.
As wproct said, the color is up to you.
Left: Taurus 856UL
Middle: M&P 380 Bodyguard
Right: M&P 9mmEZ (front sight miss drilled, painted rear sight
with flat black paint).
All 3 guns are used at some point as my Concealed carry weapons.
As wproct said, the color is up to you.
Left: Taurus 856UL
Middle: M&P 380 Bodyguard
Right: M&P 9mmEZ (front sight miss drilled, painted rear sight
with flat black paint).
All 3 guns are used at some point as my Concealed carry weapons.
Attachments
Last edited:
hyena
Member
That's what I use too.
Welcome to the Forum.
Pick your color or let it be. You decide. I find a lime green suits my eyes better than red or orange.
Pick your color or let it be. You decide. I find a lime green suits my eyes better than red or orange.
Last edited:
oddshooter
Member
I think you need 3 different nail polishes and the remover.
First is always Bright White. You must have a Base for the color.
Second is your chosen Color; Triple Orange is mine.
Third is a clear coat for protection.
You can place your stripe of any size, anywhere on the front sight.
This is very helpful if you are still shooting low with max height on the rear sight. You can start your paint half way down the front sight with your stripe; then align your rear sight with the top of the orange when shooting. I do this instead of filing a front sight to regulate for one bullet.
I also use the Bright White to outline my rear sights, like Bowen.
My old tired eyes just can't see anything when black on black with black target. It's just one mass of black.
I can still shoot; I just can't see.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it.
Prescut
First is always Bright White. You must have a Base for the color.
Second is your chosen Color; Triple Orange is mine.
Third is a clear coat for protection.
You can place your stripe of any size, anywhere on the front sight.
This is very helpful if you are still shooting low with max height on the rear sight. You can start your paint half way down the front sight with your stripe; then align your rear sight with the top of the orange when shooting. I do this instead of filing a front sight to regulate for one bullet.
I also use the Bright White to outline my rear sights, like Bowen.
My old tired eyes just can't see anything when black on black with black target. It's just one mass of black.
I can still shoot; I just can't see.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it.
Prescut
Chief38 said it better than me !! Well spelled out and I'm going to try his suggestion of the Testors vs what I am using now. I also thought about applying clear coat as oddshooter suggested. My current method suffers holster wear after awhile. As Chief38 noted it can happen - I had to replace the barrel on my model 65 due to a botched insert job.
Two bottles of nail polish from the dollar store. White and bright orange. About a buck a bottle. I just use the brush that comes in the bottle, and have never had a problem.
I've never thought of using a clear coat over it, but then my guns don't see holsters very often, if ever.
I used white-out back in the day also.
I've never thought of using a clear coat over it, but then my guns don't see holsters very often, if ever.
I used white-out back in the day also.
I use front sight bright orange paint for combat shooting:
"FIGHT-FRONT SIGHT"
"FIGHT-FRONT SIGHT"
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Messages
- 19,872
- Reaction score
- 31,882
I know some here prefer indoor shooting and some prefer outdoors. SOME colors tend to wash out to gray when in bright sunlight - so that is why I like a method that is 100% removable and can be done in a minute. For me the orange/red color works fantastic indoors but outdoors I much prefer the Factory blued or black sights because they don't get washed out.
gwpercle
Member
Flat White Lacquer ... just use a Bic White-Out Correction Pen .
Shake well , squeeze the pen and place the pen's ball tip where you want the paint and press down the little ball ... beats a brush Seven Ways to Sunday .
You can use the flat white as a base coat for a color ...or as I have found out after trying several colors ... I like the flat white best !
The Bic Pen is also cheap , easy to find and easy to keep one in your range bag .
Gary
Shake well , squeeze the pen and place the pen's ball tip where you want the paint and press down the little ball ... beats a brush Seven Ways to Sunday .
You can use the flat white as a base coat for a color ...or as I have found out after trying several colors ... I like the flat white best !
The Bic Pen is also cheap , easy to find and easy to keep one in your range bag .
Gary
I have quite a few different colors of nail polish (for my firearm sights!) that I use. Some pistols that come with all black are very hard for me to see so I'll usually use white to make them stand out some. Revolvers, like a model 10, I'll use orange or yellow. This is not a S&W but my EDC, Shown as an example. Easier to see than all black.
Attachments
Last edited:
Just teasing you, Sir.
Last edited:
I go stripper green my eyes pick that up the best 
Rifleman200-10X
Member
Try blue outdoors in dim light.
I hunt with handguns quite a lot. I use a bright, light blue on my front sight. Blue is the last color of the spectrum that is visible as the sunlight fades to darkness. For the same reason, I have blue nocks, crests, and feather fletchings on the cedar arrows I bowhunt with. No compound bows, no carbon fiber, I shoot an old recurve, or longbow, depending on the mood.
I hunt with handguns quite a lot. I use a bright, light blue on my front sight. Blue is the last color of the spectrum that is visible as the sunlight fades to darkness. For the same reason, I have blue nocks, crests, and feather fletchings on the cedar arrows I bowhunt with. No compound bows, no carbon fiber, I shoot an old recurve, or longbow, depending on the mood.
Last edited:
DGNY
Member
NTMOI.... Necessity, the mother of invention!
A few years ago, at his deer hunting camp (which means few deer, but coffee in the morning and an adult libation at dusk), my cousin had a can of orange glow paint (actually to warn snowmobilers of changes in trail direction...).
During an afternoon of impromptu range time, I realized that the front sight on one of my esteemed Model 15 S & W's, and the front sight on my three-screw Ruger 22 Single Six, were nearly invisible in the shade of the glowering woods.
He said, "Give this a try". So, I did. Using the awl on my Swiss Army knife to apply it from a bit of sacrificially-sprayed cardboard, and after wiping off the sights. Eureka! That spray can paint has lasted beautifully despite several cleanings of the revolvers ever since. Indeed, was quick and non-scientific.
For those who wish, sure, good to try various colors; and some no doubt better than others. Yet, to me, anything other than standard blueing/black on the front sight is an improvement.
Good luck to all - and, what a pleasure it is to be able to see front sight!
A few years ago, at his deer hunting camp (which means few deer, but coffee in the morning and an adult libation at dusk), my cousin had a can of orange glow paint (actually to warn snowmobilers of changes in trail direction...).
During an afternoon of impromptu range time, I realized that the front sight on one of my esteemed Model 15 S & W's, and the front sight on my three-screw Ruger 22 Single Six, were nearly invisible in the shade of the glowering woods.
He said, "Give this a try". So, I did. Using the awl on my Swiss Army knife to apply it from a bit of sacrificially-sprayed cardboard, and after wiping off the sights. Eureka! That spray can paint has lasted beautifully despite several cleanings of the revolvers ever since. Indeed, was quick and non-scientific.
For those who wish, sure, good to try various colors; and some no doubt better than others. Yet, to me, anything other than standard blueing/black on the front sight is an improvement.
Good luck to all - and, what a pleasure it is to be able to see front sight!
When I bought this Beretta the guys down at Allegheny Arms in Bethel Park where I used as the FFL had these cool blue stocks to replace the blahh black factory ones, so I got a set. Of course I had some blue nail polish and put it on the front sight to match. I don't have a pic of the sight, but the color matched perfectly! Ya know, sometimes ya just have to make it look good! I can't find a picture of the sights, but it's damned near the same color as the blue in the little .32! Of course I had to put my Daisy in there! She doesn't have long to go in this world! The other two pistols have white front sights. Wish I took proper pics!
Attachments
Oracle
US Veteran
I have a model 60 Pro Series with a very tiny speck of tritium on the front sight. Maybe Superman could see that speck. In a completely dark shop the speck 99.9% invisible, no way I would use it.
I put a nice tidy coat of orange paint on my front sight being very careful around the tritium. (To maybe keep the resale value up, I didn't want it looking Bubba mod)
I put a nice tidy coat of orange paint on my front sight being very careful around the tritium. (To maybe keep the resale value up, I didn't want it looking Bubba mod)
