BHP Sport Type A Rear Sight

[hamock]

So here it is, my first post on the 1911Forum and it's about a Browning Hi Power.

A local pawn shop has an older, 1971, Browning Hi Power Sport for sale. While the finish is pretty worn and the grips have seen better days, it's in good mechanical condition. The price is the best I have ever personally seen on an honest to God Belgian Hi Power. What's keeping me from takinging the plunge is that most of the rear sight is missing. The rear sight base and sight aperture housing are about the only thing there.

I've spent a couple of days trying to do some research online. This is what I've come up with:
-It's a Type A (beer can) rear sight
-Dovetail size is .368
-Replacement Type A rear sights are difficult to find
-When found Type A rear sights can be expensive
-Type A rear sights were not very well designed, were fragile, and windage screws had a tendency to loosen

I'm really interested in this gun. Does anyone know of a decent replacement rear sight? It doesn't have to be adjustable, fixed would be just fine. I am aware that the front sight is rather tall, designed to work with the tall adjustable rear, and I suppose this could be remedied with some filing. I suppose a tall fixed rear sight might also work.

Thanks in advance, Ham

[pmhayden]

Someone did make a custom fixed rear sight blade for the blocky, large front sight, but it looked strange. It was as tall as it was wide, maybe taller. The front side is soldered on. You need to refinish the slide if you remove it.

I have a beer can pistol, as well, and tried to find an alternative. I gave up and bought a surplus Mark II slide off ebay (no firing pin safety). I think that is the cheapest option. The slide seems to be drop-in in my case. But it has its own barrel. The sights are the standard Mark II sights, which are not bad for stock sights for a carry gun.

[Burgs]

Hamock,

The Type B rear sight is a direct replacement. They are not hard to find. I believe I just saw some on EBay and/or Midway USA. The Type B is a much better sight anyway.
You might find an adjustable from Kensight too.

If you really want to spiff it up, you can send it to Novak and they will have it back to you in a week.

[hi-powered]

If the price is acceptable to you, buy it! Set the sites where you need them and apply loctite to all the screws.

I've a 1979 and when mine breaks beyond reasonable repair or parts I'll send it to novak.

[hamock]

Thanks for the information

-pmhayden, I'll keep the replacement slide in mind but I'd really like to make this one work.

-Burgs, Brownells has them in nickel, pretty much evertyhing else I found ended up being a link to Brownells. I'll keep looking though. I'd love to send it to Novak and do it up right, just not in the cards right now.

-hi-powered, the locktite sounds like a good idea. Novak sure does some fine work though