Hardballer rear sight desperately needed

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   All,
Being the neighborhood AMT guy has paid off. The local gunsmith just offered me a ridiculously good deal on an AMT Hardballer Longslide—practically for nothing. 

The problem is, it is missing the complete rear sight assembly. Sight base, blade, pin, springs, screws, the whole enchilada. 

Does anybody here have (or know where I can get) a complete sight?  Please help me bring this gun back to life!  Thanks!

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Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Hardballer rear sight desperately needed Posted: 26 Jan 2024 at 7:30pm
	All, Being the neighborhood AMT guy has paid off. The local gunsmith just offered me a ridiculously good deal on an AMT Hardballer Longslide—practically for nothing. The problem is, it is missing the complete rear sight assembly. Sight base, blade, pin, springs, screws, the whole enchilada. Does anybody here have (or know where I can get) a complete sight? Please help me bring this gun back to life! Thanks!

Luvz2Shoot Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 660	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luvz2Shoot Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Jan 2024 at 4:00am
	Mike, I've got some rear sights. ( https://amtguns.info/looking-for-a-automag2-rear-sight_topic2874_post27788.html?KW=#27788 ) I don't know if one can fit, but I will try and take a look this weekend. I'm not optimistic, but I will still check. (Following this thread in case someone has an exact sight and beats me to it) By the way.... you lucky dog!
	If you were happy and you knew it, would you clap your hands?

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Jan 2024 at 4:36am
	Thanks much, but I may have a solution. The Millett catalog is rather opaque with respect to sight fitment for the AMT guns. They list a specific sight for Hardballer guns before serial 27384 (7/88) but then say to contact AMT for all guns after that. They list a separate sight for round slide AMT guns and conventional Government models, and a unique sight for Colt Gold Cup, Randall and other adjustable sight 1911s. I measured the sight on my Javelina and compared it to my 1974 Series 70 Gold Cup and they appear to have identical dimensions. I dove onto eBay and hey presto, found this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276293816340 If it fits a Gold Cup, and my Gold Cup is the same as my Javelina, then hopefully it will fit my new Hardballer. And if not I can always just throw it back up on eBay again, maybe lose a few bucks, but who cares? If all goes well this sight will drop right onto the gun and be fitted as part of the laughably cheap purchase, and I will walk out a very happy bunny. The story is that the gun was removed from the owner by law enforcement for some reason, and turned over to the gunsmith for storage. It was missing the rear sight for some reason. The miscreant paid the first storage bill and then disappeared completely, and it’s been sitting there for years and years ever since. So I guess it’s some sort of lien sale. The gunsmith has already made money and is more than whole already, and he’s tired of looking at it. I was having the rear sight blade changed (again) on my Javelina and he saw an opportunity to capitalize on my weakness for a good deal on an AMT. We shall see what transpires when I get the sight next week. If for some reason it doesn’t fit, I will circle back around. In any event I will keep everyone posted.

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 2024 at 11:48pm
	An update: I went and looked at the gun today. It’s a bit scruffy. Oddly the markings are partially worn off the slide which suggests it was holster carried? It’s a Covina gun, making it early production, no? My Javelina sight has the same dimensions as a Colt Gold Cup and I found and bought a Millett Gold Cup sight (which isn’t here yet). However in looking at this gun I see that the sight is shorter in length. So adapting this sight to this gun would either demand milling the sight channel to make it longer or chopping the front end off the sight and drilling a new hole to mount it. Pics to follow.

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 2024 at 11:51pm


Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Feb 2024 at 1:12am
	Just completed the purchase paperwork. Pics won’t upload here as usual. Grrr… I was wrong—the markings are fine, it was just the lighting that was making them hard to see. I realized it’s been fitted with a very nice aftermarket grip safety and it feels like it has been given a trigger job. The trigger is MUCH better than my Javelina (which has had a trigger job that was only moderately successful). I will try to post pics again later….

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Feb 2024 at 2:22am


Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Feb 2024 at 2:58am
	The pic above shows my problem. The sight channel is short relative to my Javelina. Millett says they changed after #27384, and this is #27654. They have a dedicated part number for Hardballers before #27384 but only say that AMT is the sole source for guns after that date. It will be interesting to see what the solution is. I can either have the sight channel enlarged to accommodate the longer sight, or (preferably) have the front of the sight shortened and drill a new mounting hole in the sight and install it in the standard sight channel. More to follow in a few weeks (unless somebody happens to have a suitable sight lying around in which case I would instantly buy it and install it straightaway).

Luvz2Shoot Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 660	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luvz2Shoot Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Feb 2024 at 3:04am
	Another broken screw? What is it with you and broken screws.....? LOL Hopefully this one comes out easier than the Auto Mag.
	If you were happy and you knew it, would you clap your hands?

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Feb 2024 at 3:08am
	Hahaha! No I’m buying this gun with no rear sight. Lost by the previous owner somehow? Oh, wait, now I see! Is that a broken-off elevation screw I see? Ah geez….fortunately I have a spare Millett sight (for another gun) that can supply the needed screw….