AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: OLDSPARKY on January 19, 2026, 05:39:55 PM

Title: Front sight brass
Post by: OLDSPARKY on January 19, 2026, 05:39:55 PM
Going to make a front sight fo my build and have to order some brass sheet ,looks like I need 12 ga, What grade do i need to get ? found some h62 Thanks
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: rich pierce on January 19, 2026, 09:04:46 PM
I can send you scraps big enough to make one if you’re going to make the base and blade separately. Let me know the thickness.
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: Daryl on January 19, 2026, 09:19:17 PM
Bead or blade?

(https://i.ibb.co/zV04HL5s/sights3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/whxzrbLy)
(https://i.ibb.co/pvRNvGqK/sights4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bg2Ygqtv)
(https://i.ibb.co/FvWt0Ld/100-7224.jpg) (https://ibb.co/knyF9sP)
(https://i.ibb.co/gFJBKGQn/100-7226.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FqzjT9cP)
(https://i.ibb.co/S40RxQYs/Express-Front-Sight.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nNfz03dg)
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: OLDSPARKY on January 20, 2026, 12:03:19 AM
Making the front blade, Rich that would be great, I was thinking around .080 , is that about right for a Lancaster I'm a senior and don't wear glasses but my eyes are not as good as they once were  Nice sights you have there Dayrl Thanks
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: Daryl on January 20, 2026, 12:10:39 AM
Blade thickeness, or bead diameter also depends on barrel length, ie: distance from your eye to the front blade or bead.
The shorter the barrel, the thinner it can, or visa-vis. Depends on what is needed for visibility. The top- rear corner, if cut
at a 45 degree angle & polished, will give a bright spot for aiming in the dark bush or on dark targets. Out in the open sun,
a swipe with a dry erase marking pen will make a dull black sight, not shiny at all. A simply wipe with the thumb of finger
will wipe off the dull black and leave your front sight shiny again.
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: smylee grouch on January 20, 2026, 12:52:57 AM
Go to your junk drawer, you might have an old brass key laying around.  ;)
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: WalnutRed on January 20, 2026, 04:13:17 AM
Go to your junk drawer, you might have an old brass key laying around.  ;)

GREAT suggestion!
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: smylee grouch on January 20, 2026, 04:24:27 PM
I have made lock bolt inlays out of old keys as well and barrel pin inlays
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: OLDSPARKY on January 20, 2026, 09:02:04 PM
Thanks looking for a key now
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: Habu on January 20, 2026, 11:40:27 PM
If you are organized and don't have any spares, any place that makes keys will have rejects.
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: OLDSPARKY on January 21, 2026, 04:13:07 PM
Thanks to all
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: recurve on January 21, 2026, 06:10:35 PM
I have small brass nails with round heads (found in hardware stores) would be easy to add to your sight   by soldering
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: smylee grouch on January 22, 2026, 05:31:58 PM
When using brass keys for front sights I found them too thin for my old eyes so I used two and silver soldered them together, giving me a sliver of silver in the middle of the sight when finished  ;)
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: Chris in SE PA on January 23, 2026, 03:24:19 AM
Daryl, those are some really nice express sights. Did you make those?
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: OLDSPARKY on January 23, 2026, 05:11:54 AM
When using brass keys for front sights I found them too thin for my old eyes so I used two and silver soldered them together, giving me a sliver of silver in the middle of the sight when finished  ;)
Grouch I like that idea !
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: J.D. on January 23, 2026, 09:02:06 AM

When using brass keys for front sights I found them too thin for my old eyes so I used two and silver soldered them together, giving me a sliver of silver in the middle of the sight when finished  ;)

Scrap Brass sheet can be folded and soldered to get the same effect, though a medium to high temp silver solder needs to be used to solder the sight blade together, and a low temp solder used to solder the blade to the base.
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: bluenoser on January 23, 2026, 05:37:26 PM
Why do you think silver solder is required to solder the sight blade together?  The joint should be under zero stress.  In comparison, the sight to base joint has much less surface area and can be subjected to quite a bit of stress.
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: whetrock on January 23, 2026, 05:42:40 PM
Why do you think silver solder is required to solder the sight blade together?  The joint should be under zero stress.  In comparison, the sight to base joint has much less surface area and can be subjected to quite a bit of stress.

I think he's just talking about the different melt temps. He doesn't want the fold to come loose while he is soldering the base.
Title: Re: Front sight brass
Post by: bluenoser on January 23, 2026, 08:16:24 PM
Good point.  I would be more inclined to clamp the sight, which would also act as a heat sink, while soldering the base.  Just different ways to skin that cat.