I bought a Ruger Bisley a couple of years and now the blueing is wearing thin on the front sight. This makes it shine even on an overcast day. It is a ramp sight which was sort of shinny to begin with. I want to get it real dark. I am thinking of carefully spray painting it flat black. I thought of reblueing, but that leaves a smooth shinny surface. Is there a better way? I am eventully going to get a a custum post front sight, but don't want send my gun off this close to deer season.

I've used a basic felt tip marker in the past.

If you want something to apply daily, use a carbide lamp to smoke the site. If you want permanent solution have the front site parkerized. This will leave it with a very flat none reflective gray finish.
Ray

Birchwood Casey and Hoppes both sell a product called Sight Black. It comes in an aerosol can and cover the sight with a flat, sooty looking covering that can be rubbed off at will.

[ 09-18-2002, 22:24: Message edited by: twillis ]

How easy will the Sight Black rub off in a holster? I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Don't recall ever carrying a gun that had it on in a holster. I used it for silhouette shooting. I would suspect it will come off fairly easy with holster contact. It should be around $5.00 a can so it would be cheap to try.

Sean, I use just plain flat black model airplane paint (the kind you use for plastic models). It will wear off after a while in a holster, but lasts pretty well!! Paint it on with a brush.

This may not be different from what eldeguello is telling you about, but military exchanges carry tiny bottles of black paint called Em-Nu (as in new emblem) for painting collar devices black. It costs almost nothing, and lasts for a while. It's not as good as a carbide lamp, but it sure lasts a lot longer, and usually doesn't come off easily once it dries.

Instead of a carbide lamp, it is a lot more convenient to burn a little piece of masking tape. It leaves the same finish and is a ton more convenient.

The stuff Recono is recommending may last longer!!

"may" last longer eh?

I was just posting that for the target shooters that still use a carbide lamp to smoke their sights. The masking tape is a lot more convenient and is easy to apply an even coating of black. Regarding the Ruger, I would:

A) just paint it with a flat black paint using a fine brush
B) parkerize
C) put my own fine serrations in the ramp with a fine triangular or knife edge file , then refinish

Depending on the gun and what I wanted to do with it.

I tried the sight Black and it worked great. It does rub off real easy so I think I will try the air plane paint next. Thanks for all your input.