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Front Sight Help

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TarponStalker

54 Cal.
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
593
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Location
Florida
There have been several threads about those of us with damaged or aging eyes and the ability or lack of it to see our sights.
Some may recall that I posted a story over a year ago about me having surgery to repair a macular hole in my right eye. Since the surgery I can see but the doc says I’ll always have distorted vision.
I realized I can’t always see or tell where the top of the front sight is. I get blank spots on vertical lines.

Hopefully what I found may help others. I tried white paint that didn’t help much. Bright orange fingernail polish worked in some light but not all.
I finally tried fluorescent yellow. It worked better but always came off the sight with use. At my wife’s suggestion I coated the yellow with clear fingernail polish. Then put 2-3 coats of each. So far it has worked fine. But on light background it’s not perfect so I painted the lower blade with a black sharpie. Now I can at least tell where the top of the blade is if I can’t see the yellow part. I hope I’m explaining this clearly. I’ll attach a photo that may help.
iIt also thickened the blade so I can see it better too.
 

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There have been several threads about those of us with damaged or aging eyes and the ability or lack of it to see our sights.
Some may recall that I posted a story over a year ago about me having surgery to repair a macular hole in my right eye. Since the surgery I can see but the doc says I’ll always have distorted vision.
I realized I can’t always see or tell where the top of the front sight is. I get blank spots on vertical lines.

Hopefully what I found may help others. I tried white paint that didn’t help much. Bright orange fingernail polish worked in some light but not all.
I finally tried fluorescent yellow. It worked better but always came off the sight with use. At my wife’s suggestion I coated the yellow with clear fingernail polish. Then put 2-3 coats of each. So far it has worked fine. But on light background it’s not perfect so I painted the lower blade with a black sharpie. Now I can at least tell where the top of the blade is if I can’t see the yellow part. I hope I’m explaining this clearly. I’ll attach a photo that may help.
iIt also thickened the blade so I can see it better too.
I am not sure if this could be made to work on one of these long rifles, but it is pretty common with the guys I shoot Sharps rifle unmentionables with to take a penny, cut it, and install it as a front sight. An Indian head penny. It is well known in those Sharps circles that a penny sight like that shines like a spotlight when cut. The penny has to be produced prior to a certain year in order for it to work properly, and the year is eluding me right now. If this interests you at all I could ask my friend. It might be a thin front sight. Like I said I have no idea if this would work or not but it is an idea! It is a go to trick with these Sharps guys for those who cant see the front post. Your system seems to work great though!! I just wanted to mention this incase the idea is helpful to anyone.
 
There have been several threads about those of us with damaged or aging eyes and the ability or lack of it to see our sights.
Some may recall that I posted a story over a year ago about me having surgery to repair a macular hole in my right eye. Since the surgery I can see but the doc says I’ll always have distorted vision.
I realized I can’t always see or tell where the top of the front sight is. I get blank spots on vertical lines.

Hopefully what I found may help others. I tried white paint that didn’t help much. Bright orange fingernail polish worked in some light but not all.
I finally tried fluorescent yellow. It worked better but always came off the sight with use. At my wife’s suggestion I coated the yellow with clear fingernail polish. Then put 2-3 coats of each. So far it has worked fine. But on light background it’s not perfect so I painted the lower blade with a black sharpie. Now I can at least tell where the top of the blade is if I can’t see the yellow part. I hope I’m explaining this clearly. I’ll attach a photo that may help.
iIt also thickened the blade so I can see it better too.
I think what you did was great, anything that helps is warranted. I'm starting to have similar problems myself. If it takes thinking out of the box so be it.
 
Quite a while back I got into the habit of putting white paint on the front sights. Since I've always hunted the dark woods the white painted front stands out like a penlight bulb. In the full sun it either disappears completely or offers a non-glinting blade.
 
I use fluorescent green nail polish on my unmentionable’s sights. Kinda funny, I was with my 92 year old Mother at Walmart shopping and told her I needed some finger nail polish. She never asked why, either did not care or was scared to ask.
 
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