Recommend someone to work on an RIA 1911, or is it even worth it?

[MandoWookie]

Backstory, my father several years back purchased an Armscor/ Rock Island 1911 Commander, the model with the basic GI sights. It became his favorite gun rapidly, and he shot it as extensively as his limited ammo budget allowed. However, on one range session its front sight departed, never again to guide Holy Hardball to the paper demons. We took it to the local dremel and duracoat surgeons that call themselves gunsmiths to have the sights replaced with their recommended Meprolights.

After 7 months and no response (on a six-week quoted turnaround) we finally called them for a status update, the status being that they had left the slide on the store counter where we had dropped it off , and forgot about it. After many more broken promises and runarounds we finally got it back with the new sights (crookedly) installed.
Oh well, if it shoots straight, who cares. Miraculously, it does! For two range trips at least. Then the front sight joins its predecessor in whatever hell betrayers and telemarketers go to.

I would like to get some decent sights installed on this thing for him, as he is reluctant to sell it because it has worked well for him, and he has the understandable aversion to letting go of guns, after having regretted selling off most of his( now very expensive) "junk" guns when he was younger. So it just sits in the safe, with us being gun-shy about "gunsmiths", and in the current environment, not feasible to economically replace.

Any recommendations on how to proceed?

[Borderland]

Pressing a new sight in is no big deal unless it's staked like a Colt Gov't model. There are some tools on the market that make the job fairly easy if it's a dove tail cut. I use an MGW sight pro but for a 1911 there are some for about half the cost.

[5pins]

Have the slide dovetail cut by Novak.

https://www.novaksights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=9473

[Borderland]

Have the slide dovetail cut by Novak.

https://www.novaksights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=9473


And have them install a new sight while it's there. Staked sights suck. I had two Colts with staked sights and sold them. My Gold cop has a dovetail cut.

[farscott]

Have the slide dovetail cut by Novak. https://www.novaksights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=9473

This is the best approach as the dovetail eliminates any issue with a staked front sight. Novak should have a front sight that works with the GI rear, will install it, and warranty the work.

[45dotACP]

Yeah staked in sights are horrible. I'll be sending my Colt Commander in to get dovetailed soon.

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[MandoWookie]

Wow! Thank you for all replies! I cannot believe I never thought to look at Novaks' website. That should be just the ticket. Now to convince my father that it would be worth it to send it in. Being ignorant of what all the different measurements for front sights mean and their relation to the rears, I think the safest bet is going with one of the offered mega dot front and adjustable rear combos and the full slide milling and installation options. Nice big visible front is his preference, and while fiber might me cheaper, I'm thinking tritium would show up better in the crappy lighting at our indoor range.

I will be footing the bill, so any objections about price are moot. Seems a reasonable cost to get him back to being enthusiastic about shooting. At least when ammo availability (hopefully) returns to something approaching normal.

Any tips about the best method working with Novak? Feedback from folks who have gone through the process? Any issues that might pop up? I'm pretty sure I have read through all the FAQs and the like on the site, but not knowing what I don't know, I may have missed(or not understood) something.

[45dotACP]

I'm curious about this as well. It looks like you are able to purchase the milling service in their shop website and presumably you just send them your slide, but I'm always hesitant to send guns out in the mail.

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[Lester Polfus]

I'll pile on and recommend Novak. Twenty years ago, a very small number of people knew how to properly stake a 1911 front sight, and I'm sure that number has gotten smaller in the interim.


I always chuckle when somebody recommends "any local gunsmith." They mostly screw together AR15s, install drop in Glock parts, and do Hello Kitty cerakote jobs.

20 years ago I mailed Novak a Springfield Mil-Spec slide. It came back a few weeks later with Novak night sights installed. They shot POA/POI with 230 grain ammo and I had zero issues.

[Joe in PNG]

I'm curious about this as well. It looks like you are able to purchase the milling service in their shop website and presumably you just send them your slide, but I'm always hesitant to send guns out in the mail.

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Usually, you can just send them the slide.

[MandoWookie]

I'll pile on and recommend Novak. Twenty years ago, a very small number of people knew how to properly stake a 1911 front sight, and I'm sure that number has gotten smaller in the interim.


I always chuckle when somebody recommends "any local gunsmith." They mostly screw together AR15s, install drop in Glock parts, and do Hello Kitty cerakote jobs.


Yeah, that about sums up my impression of the local outfit. The Punisher and "battle-worn" duracoat display guns should have been a warning sign...

[MandoWookie]

Usually, you can just send them the slide.

I figure once I get sorted out what we want done, I will call them and find out what they recommend as far a best way to order and ship.

[willie]

The millions of GI 45's had staked on front sights. These front sights were small. When larger front sights are staked on, their greater mass is the problem. It provides sufficient inertia allowing front sights to fly off when the slide moves back and forth.

Novak is tops. Call them.

[Wendell]

As mentioned, Novaks is a good option.

Personally, given a choice, I'd much prefer Heinie (https://www.heinie.com/) sights, especially with their (wider-notch) 0.156" rear. A 0.156" rear notch allows for more visible light which, in turn, allows one to attain a clearer focus on the front sight, and more quickly.

For me, Heinie's (wider) 0.156" rear notch is a real lifesaver.


We only need your slide for sight installation; please do not ship the entire pistol. When sending your slide please include your name, billing address, shipping address and your daytime phone number. Also include the part number or description of the Heinie sights you want installed. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. You may include your card number and expiration date with the above information in your package with the slide or we will call you at the daytime phone number provided by you with your slide for payment. Ship to: Heinie Specialty Products, Inc., 301 Oak Street Suite 3-4, Quincy, IL 62301.

https://www.heinie.com/sight-installation.html

[Jim Watson]

I'm thinking tritium would show up better in the crappy lighting at our indoor range.

I don't know what is going to show up on an indoor range. Firing line lighting is usually too dim to illuminate fibre optic but too bright to let tritium stand out. I guess the combo front sight will be a reasonable effort. I have done some shooting with a magnetic base flashlight stuck to the target carrier rail and gotten some benefit. I need a light with wider beam, though.



I always chuckle when somebody recommends "any local gunsmith." They mostly screw together AR15s, install drop in Glock parts, and do Hello Kitty cerakote jobs.

Right.
Every post "I have a secondhand/antique/surplus/inherited gun like so, is it OK?" will be answered "Get a gunsmith to check it out."
I don't know but one local to me that I would have examine a piece I was not familiar with.