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need a rear site

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Hello I just traded an engine block for a kimber solo from a guy I race with. The solo is missing the rear site. He said something about trying to remove the site as he was going to ad night sites to it. He said he could not get the rear site off and finally went after it with a big cold chisel. Then for what ever reason it set for a year and a half and he never ordered the night sites. He says now he can't find the night sites, every place shows them out of stock. He needed the engine block and I always thought the solo was the coolest looking gun I ever saw. So now I just need to find a rear site and I can then try shooting it.

So has anyone replaced their standard sites with night sites and have the old rear site they could sell me? PM me or email me at ncwonline at gmail.

I don't really care so much about night sites, if I end up liking the way this gun shoots I want to get a laser grip for it. I suppose if no one has any standard take off sights, I may end up ordering night sites just to have sites on it. I see they seem to be for sale direct form kimber. Don't know why my buddy did not get them from kimber but I am glad I ended up with this gun. I hear the solo kicks pretty good but I'm not worried, I have a long history with large powerful pistols [44 mag, 357 mag, glock 40] and I have a keltec PF9 and I shoot that just fine. So, I am not worried at all about the solo, I'll handle it just fine.

I will make another post in this thread, or edit this post if I manage to find a standard rear site. So, if there is no post from me stating I now have a rear site, I still need one so contact me if you can help.

I do not want to spend 130+ on night sites when I can put that money toward the laser later.

Thanks, bob
 
Chuck43

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#2 ·
Welcome to the forum from northern Illinois ncwbob.

Kimbers have notoriously tight dovetails, I highly recommended that you send it in or take it to a gunsmith especially if you don't have the push tool specific for that slide. FYI the tool for pushing sights is very expensive. The fact that the previous owner said he went at it with a big cold chisel makes me shudder. Depending on the model the Solo is an 800.00 - 1200.00 gun, why take a chance on ruining it?

 
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#4 ·
:shakehead: Good luck with that. Wow.

If he'd told me ahead of time he had used a cold chisel on the gun, he'd still have it.
 
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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
Insta-Gator said:
:shakehead: Good luck with that. Wow.

If he'd told me ahead of time he had used a cold chisel on the gun, he'd still have it.
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I agree, I was apprehensive also but he said he bent his drift punch and needed something bigger and since he was not going to save the original sight he used the chisel.

The gun is perfect, no gouges or scratches. Not sure what he used to clamp it in the vice but what ever it was it did not scratch the gun. The guy I got it from though somewhat ham fisted is not a total idiot. he can sure build an engine.

As for what I paid, that was the good part. The short-block was worth 400 to 500 and we both knew that. Thing was, he needed the short-block and wanted it now so I told him to stop whining and trade me. He agreed. I think he just lost interest in the solo, he has many other guns.

As for installing the new rear sight I will work on it bit by bit until I can get it in or I will take it to a gunsmith. I am a former aerospace machinist so I can probably get the new rear sight installed even if I need to take a few thousandths off it with a small file.

Slide heated, sight frozen with dry ice and drive her home with a press after getting it close with the file. If I need to, I can machine a jig or even make my own sight pusher, actually been kinda wanting to do that any way and I have the mill and measuring tools to do it. I am not a gunsmith but I am not afraid of pushing a rear sight in a dove tail. I have a nice collection of cold chisels...hahahah, KIDDING, dont worry....;)

Being the cheapskate I am, I cant stand the thought of paying some one 50 bucks for a few minutes of work I could do myself if I am careful. I do realize what that could lead to, yes been there, done that and messed things up but that is what happens some times, it is how we all gain experience. I was handed things to fix at my former job and told to get it done. I looked at the part, thought of what it was worth and had to ask God to guide my hands.

bob
 
Chuck43

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#6 ·
Bob, you say you're a cheapskate and it sounds like you have access to a machine shop, great. Being a cheapskate myself I tend to think like you and yes now that I'm retired I do save money that way but there was a time when I was working that doing it myself cost me more money then if I paid someone else to do it. For one reason or another we always seem to forget to put a dollar value on our time. You mentioned paying a gunsmith $50.00 for a simple job? Why is it simple, because he's done it hundreds of times and he has the proper tools sitting on his bench. How much time will it take you to find a rear sight, build a pusher, fit the sight to the slide then finally install it, what's your shop time worth?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time here, it's cold out and I'm old and bored.

What kind of car do you race, I don't do that any more but I still have and cruise with the 23 T-Bucket I originally built in 1967.

 
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Discussion Starter · #7 · (Edited)
Chuck43 said:
Bob, you say you're a cheapskate and it sounds like you have access to a machine shop, great. Being a cheapskate myself I tend to think like you and yes now that I'm retired I do save money that way but there was a time when I was working that doing it myself cost me more money then if I paid someone else to do it. For one reason or another we always seem to forget to put a dollar value on our time. You mentioned paying a gunsmith $50.00 for a simple job? Why is it simple, because he's done it hundreds of times and he has the proper tools sitting on his bench. How much time will it take you to find a rear sight, build a pusher, fit the sight to the slide then finally install it, what's your shop time worth?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time here, it's cold out and I'm old and bored.

What kind of car do you race, I don't do that any more but I still have and cruise with the 23 T-Bucket I originally built in 1967.
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The scenario you describe has bit me enough times I should know better but then it comes down to this, I am what I am, a craftsman and I have the tools and I have the time and most of all, I enjoy it and the way I look at it, I will have a cool gadget when I'm done, a sight pusher that is going to be better then one I could buy.

My race car is a mini super stock 4 cylinder car [1/4 mile circle track].

As for giving me a hard time go for it, I do my own thing and am ready to take the the crap that comes along with that starting with my wife and right on down the line to who ever wishes to fling a little my way. I am not so thin skinned that I am going to let anybody from the internet get me riled up, no offense meant by that, but I'm sure you already knew that.

bob
 
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#8 ·
NCWBob -- just thinking... have you called Kimber and asked if they have any regular sights that they have removed to install night sights? They probably don't or consider them no longer 'in spec' and discard or return with the newly installed night sights. But, it might be worth a shot to ask them.
 
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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Warthogge said:
NCWBob -- just thinking... have you called Kimber and asked if they have any regular sights that they have removed to install night sights? They probably don't or consider them no longer 'in spec' and discard or return with the newly installed night sights. But, it might be worth a shot to ask them.
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Might have to do just that. I figure an organization such as kimber is not going to be giving anything away though, not with them being as proud of their stuff as the seem to be. can't hurt to ask though, even if I am pretty sure I already know the answer.

bob
 
Chuck43

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ncwbob said:
Just ordered one from kimber, $46.75 with shipping.

I was really hoping for around 30 bucks but what the heck.

Least I'll have it and be able to shoot the gun sooner rather then later.

Bob
Click to expand...
New rear sight............. $46.75
Shipping .................... couple of bucks
Working Solo............... priceless
 
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