I bought a S&W 1911 not long ago. It was in nice condition, and at a fair price. Now, after wearing it around for a while I find the nice looking adjustable sights are a no-go for a carry gun. They really dig in. Seems S&W also decided to go their own way on the dovetails, and I can’t find any Novak style sights for it. The front has a fiber optic sight in it and came with a standard blade, but at least the front dovetail appears to be standard. Is there anyone out there making a carry style sight that will fit this gun? Tritium would be best. Starting to think I may be stuck with having a smith take the sharp edges off the stock sight.
Do you know what cut they are? From the pic angle they look kinda like Bomar, maybe you can find a fixed rear to replace it.
I don’t remember ever coming across a Novak style replacement for that sight cut.
I believe S&W uses an LPA cut for their adjustable sights; if so then Harrison Design makes and excellent replacement fixed sight you can get from Brownells or Harrison directly. I’m using them in two Springfield Armory 1911s with LPA cuts.
Visually looks like an LPA cut, but S&W has such a history of using funky slightly different cuts that mirror well established cuts that I wouldn’t say yes or no positively. I’d email them and ask what the cut is and if it’s a standard LPA or the Harrison sight. They are the only manufacturer I know of making fixed sights to fit an LPA adjustable sight cut.
Well some of the better smiths will do some quick turnaround times for “smaller” work like fancy sights. Steve Morrison at MARS recently quoted me a for a MARS rear and gold bead front at two weeks.
10-8’s are your only solution without machining. Had the rear sight mounted on my S&W 1911. There still in stock on the 10-8 website. Get them while you can. Just noticed that your SOL. 10-8’s only fit a fixed/non adjustable rear sight.
According to Smith & Wesson It is a “Bowmar” cut. The internet shows only “Bomar” with no “w”. Typo from the guy at S&W or something special they did…
SW Level 1 Sep 9 at 4:01 PM
To My Name
Reference number: LTK11177011839243X Please use this ticket number in any correspondence with us.
Subject: 1911 sights
Dear Customer,
The dovetail cut is a Bowmar Cut.
Smith&Wesson values its customers and we are happy to have served you today. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further assistance.
Regards, Rob
from link “**The 02 series sights DO NOT fit: Kimber, ParaOrdnance, Taurus, Magnum Research, or S&W 1911s. The Kimber and Magnum Research 1911s take our Kimber Front and Rear Sights.”
Try this sight perhaps. I’ve used quite a few parts that John Harrison makes. and it’s good stuff. You can contact him with any questions, I’m sure he’d be glad to help in anyway. Bomar, Bowmar, sounds like a typo to me. Good luck.
