Sights for 1911 models

This collection contains iron sights for 1911 pistols. On a 1911, the sights that fit depend on the rear sight cut of the slide. The sights are therefore sorted by cut.

Sights by rear sight cut

• Novak Cut: the largest choice. Fixed Angry Bear sights in fiber optic, tritium or blank. LPA adjustable sights and adjustable rear sights. See Sights for 1911 Novak Cut.
• G.I. Cut: LPA adjustable sights and adjustable rear sights in blank, fiber optic, white dots or white lines. See Sights for 1911 G.I. Cut.
• BoMar Cut: LPA adjustable rear sights, including a version with 3 height points that you switch without tools. See Sights for 1911 BoMar Cut.
• Kimber Cut: LPA adjustable sights in fiber optic, luminescent dots or white dots. See Sights for 1911 Kimber Cut.
• Rock Island: LPA adjustable sights for 1911 models made by Rock Island Armory. See Sights for 1911 models made by Rock Island Armory.

A sight for one cut does not fit another cut. Not sure which cut your 1911 has? Check the pistol specifications or compare your rear sight with the product photos.

How the cuts differ

The cut is the shape of the slot for the rear sight in the slide. The G.I. cut is the narrow dovetail of the original military 1911. The Novak cut is a low-profile cut with an angled front face, common on newer 1911 pistols. The BoMar cut is milled for an adjustable target rear sight. The Kimber cut is used on Kimber pistols. Rock Island Armory uses its own cut. Because the shapes differ, a sight for one cut will not sit in another.

Choices within one cut

• Complete set or rear sight only: a set changes the front and the rear sight. A rear sight alone keeps your factory front sight. If the new rear sight is higher or lower than the old one, the point of impact moves. You correct it with the elevation screw.
• Fixed or adjustable: for the Novak cut you can choose fixed Angry Bear sights or adjustable LPA sights.
• Height points: the LPA BoMar rear sight with 3 height points lets you switch between three heights without tools.

Rimfire and other 1911-type pistols

• Sig 1911 .22 LR: LPA adjustable sights. The front sight dovetail is 7 mm wide. Some Sig 1911 .22 LR variants have a wider front sight cut, and these sights do not fit them. Measure your front sight dovetail first. See Sights for Sig Sauer 1911 .22 LR.
• Tanfoglio Witness 1911 Custom: see Sights for Tanfoglio Witness 1911 Custom.
• Remington 1911 R1: see Sights for Remington 1911 R1.

Adjustable or fixed

LPA adjustable sights have screws for windage and elevation. You can set your zero for a specific load. The Angry Bear Novak sights are fixed. You correct windage by moving them in the dovetail.

Sight picture

The end of each title names the sight picture. Fiber optic is bright in daylight. Tritium glows in the dark. Luminescent dots charge in light and glow for a while. White dots and white lines give contrast without glowing. Blank sights have a plain grooved surface.

A title with "front sight" or "rear sight" means a single part. Most other sights are complete sets of front and rear sight.

Makers

Most 1911 sights here are made of steel by LPA in Italy. Angry Bear in the USA makes the fixed Novak sights.

Installation

Most sights sit in a dovetail. You drift the old sight out and the new one in with a sight pusher or a punch. See Installation tools.

For red dot mounts for 1911 pistols, see Red dot mounts for 1911 models. For all sights, see Sights.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the sights on my 1911 at home?

Yes, with a sight pusher or a punch. Drift the old sight out of the dovetail and push the new one in. If you do not have the tool, a gunsmith can do it for you. See Installation tools.

Which sights should I choose for my 1911?

It depends on how you shoot:

• You want to zero for your ammunition or shoot competition: adjustable sights. You set windage and elevation with screws.
• You shoot in poor light: tritium. It glows in the dark without charging.
• You shoot in daylight, at the range or in competition: fiber optic.

Do Novak sights fit my G.I. cut 1911?

No. Every rear sight cut needs its own sights. Find the cut of your 1911 first: Novak, G.I., BoMar, Kimber or Rock Island.

Can I fit a new rear sight and keep my front sight?

Yes. Choose an adjustable rear sight for your cut. Then set the elevation so the point of impact matches your aiming point.

Do I get both the front and the rear sight?

Yes, unless the title says "front sight" or "rear sight". Then you get only that part.