Dovetail sight fitting

[kpblade]

I have question on fitting a handgun dovetail sight. When fitting the dovetail and need to file some material off, do you file the flat of dovetail, the front or back edge of the dovetail, or the angled surface of the dovetail. Researching this has me somewhat confused as all three have been suggested in various "how to's". I have always assumed you file off the bottom flat

[kpblade]

You don't file the gun, you file the sight blade.

I know, I'm talking of filing which surface of the sight, ie the flat, the front or rear edge, or the angled portion of the sight itself to fit it to the slide.

[MosinVirus]

I have found that it depends on the dovetail and the sight.

Basically the sight shouldn't be floating in dovetail or above it.

[kcstott]

here's what I do.
I try to install the sight. if the slide or barrel is from an off manufacturer i'll measure the width of the dove tail using pins and trig. this give me a theoretical sharp measurement. I can then compare that to the sight insert.
I with then measure the dovetail depth on the part (slide/barrel) then i measure the thickness of the dovetail on the sight. I'll then correct it if it's to thick with sand paper and my surface plate.
I check the fit many many times during the process.
if the sight still will not fit i'll determine what needs to be fit and remove material. Easier said than done. usually, quality sights fit perfect. some are a touch tighter than others, it's when you use cheap stuff on cheap guns that you run into trouble.
I also file a slight taper on the sight dovetail to aid in getting it started in the dovetail.

[mtenenhaus]

here's a great instructional video as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do8sHBDfIGk

[Gringo Bandito]

here's a great instructional video as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do8sHBDfIGk

+1000. This is a great video and has helped me successfully install many dovetail sites.