signts on springfield 1911

[FluorideInMyWater]

if i buy a springfield mil-spec 1911 can i change the sights to another type later or are they part of the frame?

TIA!!!

[buffybuster]

The milspec 1911 and any other unmodified 1911A1 has the rear sight dovetailed into the slide and the front sight is staked into the slide.

There are a number of aftermarket sights that will fit the existing rear dovetail and front stake hole without too much gunsmithing, other than having a staking tool for the front sight and possibly doing some filing to the rear sight to fit the dovetail. Though in my opinion, the best looking sights that fit into the existing dovetail/stakehole are a higher set of standard sights. Everything else seems to look like an addon.

If you are looking for Novak's, Heinie's, etc.. then the slide needs to be milled with a new rear dovetail to fit those rear sights and usually the front sight also milled for a dovetail and rollpinned (not the same as the rear). This simplifies and expands the front sight options.

If you are looking for some "custom" features, might be cheaper (not better) if you went with a SpgFld Loaded or one of the Kimbers. Or if funds permit a "factory custom" gun from Wilson, Nighthawk, Les Baer, Ed Brown, etc..

[xxdabroxx]

they can be changed, depending on what you want to change them to you will have to send the slide off to have it milled to accept the new sights.

what he said...

[FluorideInMyWater]

cost of mod?

The milspec 1911 and any other unmodified 1911A1 has the rear sight dovetailed into the slide and the front sight is staked into the slide.

There are a number of aftermarket sights that will fit the existing rear dovetail and front stake hole without too much gunsmithing, other than having a staking tool for the front sight and possibly doing some filing to the rear sight to fit the dovetail. Though in my opinion, the best looking sights that fit into the existing dovetail/stakehole are a higher set of standard sights. Everything else seems to look like an addon.

If you are looking for Novak's, Heinie's, etc.. then the slide needs to be milled with a new rear dovetail to fit those rear sights and usually the front sight also milled for a dovetail and rollpinned (not the same as the rear). This simplifies and expands the front sight options.


If you are looking for some "custom" features, might be cheaper (not better) if you went with a SpgFld Loaded or one of the Kimbers. Or if funds permit a "factory custom" gun from Wilson, Nighthawk, Les Baer, Ed Brown, etc..

what would something like that cost to modify/mill for new sights????

[Black Majik]

what would something like that cost to modify/mill for new sights????

Enough to consider buying a Loaded model instead.

[buffybuster]

what would something like that cost to modify/mill for new sights????

That depends on:

How often the smith does it? Do they already have a jig set up?

What kind of cuts? Having a "first class" Bomar sight cut takes a few cuts and setups.

Just the cuts or are they installing the sights too?

As you can see, there is no "set rate" for all smiths. Best thing to do is contact various smiths and get a quote. If one is fixing to run a bunch, then it won't cost much to throw yours in. Rather than if they had to setup for just one.