[BamaBoy101]

This is a pistol I recently purchased. Its a colt 1911 with a Randall Slide. As you can see in the pic its missing its front sight. So tonight I am up late so I decided what the heck, I would stake in a new sight. Problem is as you can see in the second pic the hole does not have the normal square hole. Any ideas on finding a correct sight? Otherwise I will be filing the hole square.

Round hole in the place a square one should be....

 

[jimb1972]

Looks like somebody installed S&W revolver sights on it, you should be able to replace it with same.

 

[dannydefense]

Looks like there's more than enough meat left to dovetail the front if you wanted to. The sight would probably even cover the impression left by the last installation so that you would never even know. Not something you want to attempt at home with the dremel unless you've done it a few dozen times before.

As jimb says though it looks like s&w, and those are readily available.

 

[Meangreen]

Well the hard part is done, the sight is out. Looks like a standard stake sight to me and it's real easy to fix as long as you have a punch. There is a special tool made just for installing front sights on 1911 but it costs $40.00 and isn't worth it for just one install. I'm included a link for 1911 front sights but any 1911 stake sight will work. You can even find them on Ebay. You will need access to a vise, hammer, a steel punch, and some lock tite. Place a little lock tite on the stake of the sight and install in the slide and set it a side to dry. Cover the vise grips in masking tape so as not to scratch your slide, put a little on the side just to be safe. Close the vise so that it only fits the sight between the vise "grips." Your slide is upside down on top of the vise. Take the punch and place it on the stake of the sight that should be sticking up out of the inside of the slide and flatten it with carefully placed hammer strikes on the punch. The angle is weird and that is why a special tool was made, but I have never lost a front sight after installation. Use a little fine sand paper to smooth it out and your done. Now assemble your 1911 and take it the gun shop and trade it for a Glock! :lol:

COLT Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts

 

[Smitty901]

If memory is correct that was the way they came . Do not do any mods to it until you do some research .I think they had a very small screw in them. But most were pinned. losing the front sight post was not uncommon
I will do some looking.
Trade it maybe for a glock never.
Randall used a lot of out sourcing or parts but some model can be hard to find parts for. A sight from someoen like Midway should go right in if no one has messed with it

 

[dannydefense]

Now assemble your 1911 and take it the gun shop and trade it for a Glock! :lol:

Ohhh, you were about one second away from a like for that post and as my mouse was hovering over the button I read that. Had to go there.

 

[Smitty901]

If memory is correct that was the way they came . Do not do any mods to it until you do some research .I think they had a very small screw in them.
I will do some looking.
Many places like Midway offer front sight post that should drop right in cheap apart.
It may not be worth having a high end front sight custom fitted.

 

[Smitty901]

There is a very good chance this is what you have

 

[BamaBoy101]

Well the hard part is done, the sight is out. Looks like a standard stake sight to me and it's real easy to fix as long as you have a punch. There is a special tool made just for installing front sights on 1911 but it costs $40.00 and isn't worth it for just one install. I'm included a link for 1911 front sights but any 1911 stake sight will work. You can even find them on Ebay. You will need access to a vise, hammer, a steel punch, and some lock tite. Place a little lock tite on the stake of the sight and install in the slide and set it a side to dry. Cover the vise grips in masking tape so as not to scratch your slide, put a little on the side just to be safe. Close the vise so that it only fits the sight between the vise "grips." Your slide is upside down on top of the vise. Take the punch and place it on the stake of the sight that should be sticking up out of the inside of the slide and flatten it with carefully placed hammer strikes on the punch. The angle is weird and that is why a special tool was made, but I have never lost a front sight after installation. Use a little fine sand paper to smooth it out and your done. Now assemble your 1911 and take it the gun shop and trade it for a Glock! :lol:

COLT Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts

A standard 1911 stake sight does not have a round hole. But thanks for the comment.

 

[BamaBoy101]

Ok, this is the word so far. Its not a S&W sight. I am told an EAA witness sight may work but cant seam to find one. I don’t want to dovetail this slide as it is very rare and doing so would reduce the value.

I have staked many colt sights but this is my first Randall slide. Thanks Guys!

 

[Meangreen]

Thanks guys for all the info.

Colt 1911 front sight stakes are not square but have beveled edges and the hole looks round because as the stake is flattened it fills in the space. here is some photos on the process.

Considering RIA Front Sight Change

Good luck sounds like you got it all figured out.

 

[BamaBoy101]

Well the hard part is done, the sight is out. Looks like a standard stake sight to me and it's real easy to fix as long as you have a punch. There is a special tool made just for installing front sights on 1911 but it costs $40.00 and isn't worth it for just one install. I'm included a link for 1911 front sights but any 1911 stake sight will work. You can even find them on Ebay. You will need access to a vise, hammer, a steel punch, and some lock tite. Place a little lock tite on the stake of the sight and install in the slide and set it a side to dry. Cover the vise grips in masking tape so as not to scratch your slide, put a little on the side just to be safe. Close the vise so that it only fits the sight between the vise "grips." Your slide is upside down on top of the vise. Take the punch and place it on the stake of the sight that should be sticking up out of the inside of the slide and flatten it with carefully placed hammer strikes on the punch. The angle is weird and that is why a special tool was made, but I have never lost a front sight after installation. Use a little fine sand paper to smooth it out and your done. Now assemble your 1911 and take it the gun shop and trade it for a Glock! :lol:

COLT Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts

LOL, nah not a standard stake sight and as for the glock.....I own 7 now. But hey always room for a rare 1911 as this one is....

 

[BamaBoy101]

Colt 1911 front sight stakes are not square but have beveled edges and the hole looks round because as the stake is flattened it fills in the space. here is some photos on the process.

Considering RIA Front Sight Change

View attachment 3622

Good luck sounds like you got it all figured out.

Never seen a round hole in a colt. Have installed many sights and the local gunsmith is baffled as well. Also the colt sight isnt going in that hole witout some modification.

 

[Meangreen]

Never seen a round hole in a colt. Have installed many sights and the local gunsmith is baffled as well. Also the colt sight isnt going in that hole witout some modification.

Interesting. The last sight I placed was in a Thompson 1911 and the hole was not square. Placed a staked sight and pinged it into place. Worked great and the stake spread out filling the void.

 

[BamaBoy101]

Interesting. The last sight I placed was in a Thompson 1911 and the hole was not square. Placed a staked sight and pinged it into place. Worked great and the stake spread out filling the void.

This is a pic of a front sight thats just been staked, notice the square hole.

 

[Meangreen]

This is a pick of a front sight thats just been staked, notice the square hole.

View attachment 3626

here is another picture from the same site you got your photo.

It looks very different but the point is yes there are square, rectangle, and a number different dove tails as well because there so many 1911 manufactures. I have staked a number of different sights on a several different 1911I was just trying to help and it seems you have it all figured out. There are many different designs of 1911's and Randalls are very difficult to find parts for.

 

[Meangreen]

I found this with a guy with the same problem as far as a round hole instead of a square or rectangular hole.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-142035.html

 

[BamaBoy101]

here is another picture from the same site you got your photo.

View attachment 3627

It looks very different but the point is yes there are square, rectangle, and a number different dove tails as well because there so many 1911 manufactures. I have staked a number of different sights on a several different 1911I was just trying to help and it seems you have it all figured out. There are many different designs of 1911's and Randalls are very difficult to find parts for.

I don't mean to offend, I realize there is a number of manufacturers and a round hole is not what I have dealt with. I am accustom to working on colts and I have never seen a round hole with a colt. The Randall parts are not available and the standard colt sight wont work which was my point. I didn't use the pic you posted because you cant see the shape of the hole. Again, sorry if I offended but I am only talking colt as this is what I am familiar with. I cant find a sight that will fit so not sure what I am going to do at the moment.

 

[BamaBoy101]

I found this with a guy with the same problem as far as a round hole instead of a square or rectangular hole.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-142035.html

Very Helpful,,,,,Thanks

 

[Meangreen]

I don't mean to offend, I realize there is a number of manufacturers and a round hole is not what I have dealt with. I am accustom to working on colts and I have never seen a round hole with a colt. The Randall parts are not available and the standard colt sight wont work which was my point. I didn't use the pic you posted because you cant see the shape of the hole. Again, sorry if I offended but I am only talking colt as this is what I am familiar with. I cant find a sight that will fit so not sure what I am going to do at the moment.

You didn't offend. If you look at the second photo it isn't so cut and dry. Like I said I'm not trying to get into a pissing match and if you read the article I posted, The guy had a similar problem with an older colt that had a round hole. He had his 1911 sent to a gunsmith on the forum and he posted how he was able to fix it.