Low Mount Sight Dovetail Cutters - 1911

**WWGunslinger** · April 20th, 2013, 06:46 PM

I need a .495" x 65 degree dovetail cutter and a 330” x 65 degree dovetail cutter so I can cut the dovetail for my Trijicon 1911 sights.

These are the sights I have:
http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/produc...php?pid=CA128O

This is probably going to be a one time use, so really don't want to spend the money to buy them outright. Can't find any used.

If I order new from Brownell's it's going to cost $66 plus shipping. I know this isn't really that expensive but funds are really tight right now.

Is there any where that you can recommend I get these for cheaper cost or something?

I did find this site that has them cheaper, but not sure on quality of the cutter or the company. pacifictoolandgauge.com
This is about $46 plus shipping.

**mrat** · April 20th, 2013, 07:56 PM

There's a .375 60 degree cutter on ebay for less than $16 shipped but that won't help you with the smaller one IF you can live with a 5 degree difference.

**Thomas Paine** · April 20th, 2013, 09:39 PM

couldn't you buy just one and take two stepped passes on the rear sight?

i assume you're using a mill?

**mrat** · April 20th, 2013, 10:20 PM

I HOPE he's using a mill. I wouldn't want to hang onto it using a drill,lol. The cutter will pull to one side(hook) when it goes thru.The standard way is to go through once and then ease over one side at a time,checking with the sight for fit. It's awfully hard to get a good measurement in the bottom of a dovetail. You have to run a regular endmill through first, because the d'tail cutter shaft can't remove metal and will snap.The less metal the cutter has to remove the better,sides and bottom. You also need the rpms down so it doesn't chatter like crazy,grab,and break.Not the easiest job in the shop by any means. Good luck.

**WWGunslinger** · April 20th, 2013, 11:58 PM

it will be done on a mill.

Wouldn't using a 60 degree prevent the site from going in - the angle is too small?

**cdi** · April 21st, 2013, 10:20 AM

I use an 1/8" end mill and a 1/16" end mill to clear the center out of the rear and front cuts to take some stress off the dovetail cutters.

The rear flat cut on the slide is easily done with a 3/8" end mill. You will have a better finish if you get the carbide cutters- if you are cutting an old military slide, they are differentially hardened at the front and will damage a HSS cutter.

You will want to match the angle of the cutter to the sight- a 65 degree slot with a 60 degree sight driven into it looks like ass. After all the set up and time to make the right cuts, it's foolish to skimp on mismatching the angles.