1911 Novak Sights

higgimw · Feb 2, 2011

How much labor is involved, and what tools do you need to put a set of Novak sights on a GI Springfield Armory 1911? My dad has one that I am dying to do some upgrades to. Thanks.

higgimw · Feb 2, 2011

Bueller, Bueller????

mike cyrwus · Feb 2, 2011

excuuuuuse me, Mr. Impatient.

$125 for the cuts and install on a GI type slide.

Sight Work
Single dovetail sight installation $20
Sights installation (no slide cuts), front and rear $35
Front sight dovetail cut & installation $45
Drill & pin front sight $15
1911, rear Novak cut & installation $80
1911, rear Bomar sight cut & installation $110
1911, rear Heinie cut & installation $70
1911, re-stake front sight $35

higgimw · Feb 3, 2011

Cool. But is this something I can do myself? Or will I F-Up a really nice 1911 trying?

mike cyrwus · Feb 3, 2011

Do you have access to a vertical mill and dovetail cutters?

higgimw · Feb 3, 2011

mike cyrwus said:
Do you have access to a vertical mill and dovetail cutters?

UM, Well, Er, Uh, no I suppose not. Hence the need for Ol Yeller eh? Will the back dovetail accept a set of Novak rear sights? Thanks BTW. I appreciate the help.

mike cyrwus · Feb 3, 2011

I didnt fully read your first post, which was why I just spit out some numbers.

The back is a standard milspec cut, it won't accept novaks.

higgimw · Feb 3, 2011

mike cyrwus said:
I didnt fully read your first post, which was why I just spit out some numbers.

The back is a standard milspec cut, it won't accept novaks.

Hey check your messages at home. Gimme a call. I need a price quote on a cerakote job for this pistol.

Jefpainthorse · Feb 4, 2011

If you have some mechanical skills and the right files ... You could hand cut a dove tail.

I do... and I dont. It's worth hiring a Gunsmith with a mill to cut the dovetail. An Experience mill hand will take longer to lay out the cut and set the machine up than it takes to "install" the sights. If you do it by hand... donate a whole afternoon or more of your time to the effort.

mike cyrwus · Feb 4, 2011

higgimw said:
Hey check your messages at home. Gimme a call. I need a price quote on a cerakote job for this pistol.

Didnt see your mssg; throw me your # via pm; I emptied em out so I can get pms again.

mike cyrwus · Feb 4, 2011

Jeff said:
If you have some mechanical skills and the right files ... You could hand cut a dove tail.

I do... and I dont. It's worth hiring a Gunsmith with a mill to cut the dovetail. An Experience mill hand will take longer to lay out the cut and set the machine up than it takes to "install" the sights. If you do it by hand... donate a whole afternoon or more of your time to the effort.

Yes, its almost impossible even with a good file hand, to get the cuts as good as a machine.
Most importantly, being able to keep the cut square with the frame. With my mill, I get it level to within .0005".

Jefpainthorse · Feb 4, 2011

mike cyrwus said:
Yes, its almost impossible even with a good file hand, to get the cuts as good as a machine.
Most importantly, being able to keep the cut square with the frame. With my mill, I get it level to within .0005".

I bet cyber lunch Mike C has done 100's of these installations. After you learn the order of operations... a good guy can probably set up and cut a set of 1911 dovetails in ... an hour and a half (if the phone doesnt ring)...maybe less.

Jefpainthorse · Feb 4, 2011

mike cyrwus said:
Yes, its almost impossible even with a good file hand, to get the cuts as good as a machine.
Most importantly, being able to keep the cut square with the frame. With my mill, I get it level to within .0005".