I own a Kahr E9 that I want to put night sights on. I took the gun to my local gunsmith, and told him what I needed done. He told me that it couldn't be done, because the front sight needed to be staked on. He explained that the force needed to stake the sight on would probably damage the Tritium element. He suggested that I either cut a dovetail for the front sight, or send the gun back to the factory. Is he right? Before you ask: Yes my Kahr actually has a staked on front sight.
So I think my gunsmith is an Idot. Tell me I'm wrong.
- Thread starter AMT8951
- Start date
He is not an idot.I think if you study Trijicon's info,you will find out what Trijicon says about installing the sights.I think if you go to Brownell's site,you will find the cost of Trijicon's recommended staking tool is about $300.
It is reasonable for the gunsmith to say"I am properly tooled to cut dovetails.I am not properly tooled to stake per Trijicon." Your smith gets to decide the number of sight staking jobs it will take to pay for the tool.If you buy the tool,you could probably stake the sight.The vials are easy to break.If he tries a make do method,and the vial breaks,are you going to expect him to buy a new sight?
Now,you take your handgun to a gentleman who has skills and experience,you ask him to do some work,he gives you honest information,and you insult him,whether here or to his face.
And people wonder why gunsmiths are crotchety.
It is reasonable for the gunsmith to say"I am properly tooled to cut dovetails.I am not properly tooled to stake per Trijicon." Your smith gets to decide the number of sight staking jobs it will take to pay for the tool.If you buy the tool,you could probably stake the sight.The vials are easy to break.If he tries a make do method,and the vial breaks,are you going to expect him to buy a new sight?
Now,you take your handgun to a gentleman who has skills and experience,you ask him to do some work,he gives you honest information,and you insult him,whether here or to his face.
And people wonder why gunsmiths are crotchety.
Yes.Go to Brownell's website,look under gunsmith tools.Its about $300.Proper staking with a proper tool is a good system.Now,that tool is for a 1911 slide.I do not know if it fits a Kahr,so sending your slide to Kahr or a sight mfg may be the way to go.
Your gunsmith is not an idot.Good luck.
Your gunsmith is not an idot.Good luck.
Wildalaska
Moderator
Looks like we have the old "tell me what I want to hear, not the truth" problem here.
WildyourgunsmithmadethecorrectcallAlaska ™©2002-2011
WildyourgunsmithmadethecorrectcallAlaska ™©2002-2011
603Country
New member
Idot? What's an Idot? Is that some new text acronym, like LOL? LOL 
Mr. Amt---spelling & sights on your pistol
1. Correct spelling of the word "idot": Idiot
2. Ship the slide only to novak's in parkersburg, wva. & let them install whatever sights you may desire. They are the best at sight installations & usually do the work in 10 days or less.
Please listen to what me & the other contributors are saying. Seriously, we are trying to assist you with your question & what needs to be done to accomplish what you wish to do, regarding the sights you desire. We are also trying to keep you out of hot water with yourself & your gunsmith.
All of us who hang-out in the "smithy" section, are truly sincere & passionate about what we do to assist the membership of this forum. Peace out !!!!
Guru1911
1. Correct spelling of the word "idot": Idiot
2. Ship the slide only to novak's in parkersburg, wva. & let them install whatever sights you may desire. They are the best at sight installations & usually do the work in 10 days or less.
Please listen to what me & the other contributors are saying. Seriously, we are trying to assist you with your question & what needs to be done to accomplish what you wish to do, regarding the sights you desire. We are also trying to keep you out of hot water with yourself & your gunsmith.
All of us who hang-out in the "smithy" section, are truly sincere & passionate about what we do to assist the membership of this forum. Peace out !!!!
Guru1911
AMT8951
The poster may have mistyped "idiot," and in my opinion his question is out of line when phrased as he did. But his smithy told him the job could not be done. I am not a gun smith, but from the various comments, it sounds like it can be done with the right tool. So his gun smith should have told him just that. Instead the GS lead him to believe it was impossible by anyone. Why in the world did he not just refer him to someone with the tool and explain the situation? And why do so many of you insist on insulting the poster for simple misspelled words? I see misspelled words from many of you all of the time, so nobody is perfect. Darned if I know why you could not just steer him in the right direction and leave the insults alone. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.....or something like that.
Oh, I get it. You are all kidding. Gee whiz, I need to lighten up a bit. As I recall, some of you have beat up on me for my jests. And as I told you then, you are sarcastic at times too. You can dish it but cannot take it. In this thread you are dishing it pretty well. And those to whom I refer should know who you are.
And bottom line IMHO? No, I do not think his smithy is an idiot. But he either is not willing to refer a client elsewhere or he is not aware of other resources. I would find another smithy in either case.
The poster may have mistyped "idiot," and in my opinion his question is out of line when phrased as he did. But his smithy told him the job could not be done. I am not a gun smith, but from the various comments, it sounds like it can be done with the right tool. So his gun smith should have told him just that. Instead the GS lead him to believe it was impossible by anyone. Why in the world did he not just refer him to someone with the tool and explain the situation? And why do so many of you insist on insulting the poster for simple misspelled words? I see misspelled words from many of you all of the time, so nobody is perfect. Darned if I know why you could not just steer him in the right direction and leave the insults alone. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.....or something like that.
Oh, I get it. You are all kidding. Gee whiz, I need to lighten up a bit. As I recall, some of you have beat up on me for my jests. And as I told you then, you are sarcastic at times too. You can dish it but cannot take it. In this thread you are dishing it pretty well. And those to whom I refer should know who you are.
And bottom line IMHO? No, I do not think his smithy is an idiot. But he either is not willing to refer a client elsewhere or he is not aware of other resources. I would find another smithy in either case.
FWIW, if I had to choose between shelling out $270 for a tool, or paying to have a slide dovetailed, I'd go with the dovetail. It allows a much wider variety of sight options.
Eagle Eye, we all misspell stuff; sometimes our spell-checkers do it for us and we don't catch it. But you have to admit, calling somebody an idiot, and misspelling idiot, is about as ironic an error as one can make.
Especially when the "idiot" name wasn't deserved.
Eagle Eye, we all misspell stuff; sometimes our spell-checkers do it for us and we don't catch it. But you have to admit, calling somebody an idiot, and misspelling idiot, is about as ironic an error as one can make.
Especially when the "idiot" name wasn't deserved.
now,AMT,please understand there is no ill will.I hope you won't give up on posting.
I was not there,and I don't know what happened.I am a hobbyist who works on his own stuff,and I am getting my 1911 education by sometimes buying parts twice.I did buy Wilson's combat CD series on smithing the 1911.They show installation of the tritium sights using the tool described.Trijicon says use the tool.I don't have the staking tool.I do have access to a Bridgeport and dovetail cutters.just my preference,a good stake job is probably what I would prefer.
You might get away with a hammer driven Brownell's staking tool,but your smith cannot afford to buy new sights if the vial breaks.
I do think sending it in is a fine idea.
You know,generally,to have a Gunsmith shingle out,and pay your bills,you can't really be an idiot very often.You pretty well better take pride in your work,and folks will find any flaw you put in their gun.Many won't understand what it takes,or why it costs $75 to do what seems like a simple little job,say,fit a cool new thumb safety to a 1911 that the customer bought,and the post is out of square .There ain't no drop in 1911 parts.
So,if you are in the man's shop with the idea he is an idiot,you are probably putting out disrespect vibes.
I hope you have thick enough skin and enough sense of humor to laugh at yourself.I do,often.Sometimes I call myself an idiot before I order another part.I also make typos,and sometimes I don't even care if I mis spell a word.
There is just some perfect irony there.
I was not there,and I don't know what happened.I am a hobbyist who works on his own stuff,and I am getting my 1911 education by sometimes buying parts twice.I did buy Wilson's combat CD series on smithing the 1911.They show installation of the tritium sights using the tool described.Trijicon says use the tool.I don't have the staking tool.I do have access to a Bridgeport and dovetail cutters.just my preference,a good stake job is probably what I would prefer.
You might get away with a hammer driven Brownell's staking tool,but your smith cannot afford to buy new sights if the vial breaks.
I do think sending it in is a fine idea.
You know,generally,to have a Gunsmith shingle out,and pay your bills,you can't really be an idiot very often.You pretty well better take pride in your work,and folks will find any flaw you put in their gun.Many won't understand what it takes,or why it costs $75 to do what seems like a simple little job,say,fit a cool new thumb safety to a 1911 that the customer bought,and the post is out of square .There ain't no drop in 1911 parts.
So,if you are in the man's shop with the idea he is an idiot,you are probably putting out disrespect vibes.
I hope you have thick enough skin and enough sense of humor to laugh at yourself.I do,often.Sometimes I call myself an idiot before I order another part.I also make typos,and sometimes I don't even care if I mis spell a word.
There is just some perfect irony there.
mapsjanhere
New member
The gunsmith might have been a bit loose on the "can't be done" part vs. I can't do it since you need an overpriced tool and the risk isn't worth what you'll pay for it", but he also might either known the local gunsmiths well enough to know no one has the tool, or worse, known one who has it and does crap jobs with it. Because if someone he mentions screws up the job on you you'll remember him forever as the guy who "recommended" the bad guy, and he didn't even do the job.
AMT- just in case you check back in here...
Your gunsmith simply doesn't want to mess with the job, which you can easily do yourself anyhow. See here for further. I think the front sights on the E are the same as the CW's, but you may want to call Kahr and confirm that. There are also at least a couple of slide types so make sure you sort all that out before you order.
Of course I could have posted some snarky comment about a simple typo, replied to other snarky comments, etc. But in 1/3 the time it would have taken to do that, I found a likely solution to your problem.
Geez, people. Help a guy out once in awhile.
Your gunsmith simply doesn't want to mess with the job, which you can easily do yourself anyhow. See here for further. I think the front sights on the E are the same as the CW's, but you may want to call Kahr and confirm that. There are also at least a couple of slide types so make sure you sort all that out before you order.
Of course I could have posted some snarky comment about a simple typo, replied to other snarky comments, etc. But in 1/3 the time it would have taken to do that, I found a likely solution to your problem.
Geez, people. Help a guy out once in awhile.