For a while I had not been satisfied with my sight set up, particularly the rear sight. Initially, I had a carry handle as my rear sight but got rid of it somewhat prematurely. The attachment knobs(specifically the rear) stuck out enough for me to catch a knuckle on. Because of this, I went to a MI flip style sight which had a much smaller profile width wise. I really was unimpressed with both the ‘slop’ and lack of vertical adjustment of the standard flip style sight. While I still think I will spend the $$ at some point for the KAC adjustable rear, there is something that just works about the A2 with the dual aperture.
This is my answer to my own problem: missing the full function and strength(perceived) of the A2 sight with no need for the sight to flip out of the way. After looking at all the extra metal present in the knobs I decided to give it another try with a little modification.
First I chopped a carry handle, and rounded / alumablacked the bare metal.
I turned down the existing knob to roughly half its beginning profile and made it slightly narrower. Though I did this on a lathe, there isn’t THAT much metal to remove and a power drill, file and bench grinder would probably wind up with a pretty similar end result.
The cross-bolt had to be shortened 1/8th inch to keep below the new profile of the knob and the end was staked/peaned to retain the knob and keep it from unscrewing all the way.
You can see the difference in profile between the new and old knob.
After an hour or so worth of puttering with the setup I figured that I had something that I would like. After a couple trips to the range, I am much happier with my home-brewed A2 than I ever had been with the flip sight. Now all I have to do is actually make it to a class with it.
I considered just tossing a nut on there at first, but I wanted to keep the ability to remove it without tools, since it won’t just flip out of the way. Not quite like a quick release lever but at least I shouldn’t need a wrench.
Now I’m showing my age(or lack there of) I was finishing grade school in the early '90s…
Very nice looking work and I would like to have a few with that type of finished look to it, but I am an old dog and have been doing my chopped rear and LMT front sight conversions with a small nut. I usually just do the front LMT’s and leave the rear. Again nice looking work!
That makes sense, anything besides a nut on a LMT front sight doesn’t make much sense. I’m surprised they come with the giant knob to begin with, it’s not that much weight but every little bit helps.
I hadn’t thought about it but I will probably go that route when I finally get around to free floating this barrel.
Considering it took an hour to cut and shape the handle and knob, if I were to do a bunch of them I would go the route of a nut. Making hardware is certainly not an efficient way to do it, but for my individual application it came out pretty clean.
That is definitely some fine work. I’m going to run a LMT fixed rear on my next build but I’ve never been keen on that large ass knob. I may have to go this route.
I did the same thing when i got a Aimpoint But it still has the standard Knob i really like what you did with the Knob i wish I had the set up to turn mine down great job
Appreciate the kind words gentlemen, thank you.
I’m glad to see there are others that had the same issue with the fat knob, I didn’t think that I was being too picky.
The lathe helps but really isn’t necessary for anyone who wants to do something similar. Used carry handles can be had for pretty cheap, for anyone considering it I say chop away.
I used the search feature to find information that was relevant to me at the present time instead of starting a thread. The compliment is standard kudos on a members handi-work.
I had to laugh when you used the word “piffy”!
