You filed the sight, you modified the sight, that does indeed void many, many warranties.It also makes the sights unusable and unsaleable as they have been modified and I would be mighty pissed if I bought sights that someone else had already filed on. Not exactly like they gave you the shaft there...plus there are two sides to every story and I'm never terribly inclined to just take anyone at his or her word.

It can take very little to a lot of filing to fit sights so I don't see how anyone is meant to have sympathy for you and how this is remotely Hi-Power related outside of you attempting to fit said sights on a Hi-Power. If you have a problem with Trijicon take it up with them, I've bought their products and fit them into guns on my own without issue. As I said, some took a bit of filing, some took a little bit more. It's why it's known as file and fit and you do it on sights in general rather than just shoving them in.

 

You will experience nominal variation in factory dovetails and nominal variation in specific fit replacements. Oversized to start on the replacement sights is good. You just have to do more work. Fitting is what it is. But, you file them, you bought them. You got lucky sometimes and minimal to no fitting was required. You will not always have such luck. I trust they sent them back as they can still be used, at least on the smaller side of the nominal dovetail dimensions.

 

I'm just curious how you COULDN'T get them to fit? "Filing" implies they were too big to begin with (which is generally a good thing), but you couldn't get them to fit? Were they still too large?

I really can't picture how this could be Trijicon's problem; fitting sights is what it is, 'Fitting.' If you can't measure and cut, you probably shouldn't be 'fitting' sights.

Larry

 

In all fairness, I understand why you think you should be able to return for a refund, but filed or not, they would have struggled with this.

There is some nominal size where the sights are a very tight fit, but for Trijicon to have some tolerance for manufacturing. The worst thing they can do is sell you a loose sight because it cannot be fit without welding.

So, the way sights work is that people use sight pushers or hammer/punch. Dressing the bottom and sides is expected on most guns. On modern guns, maybe most can push in, but older multi-maker guns like the HP need more oversized sights to accommodate any possible dovetail.

Frankly, I would not offer to do sight work for free because on some quantity of guns you will spend quite a bit of time fitting and may even have to buy a second sight on your own dime. You cannot count on pushing them all in.

 

I'm with Trijicon.

 

So if your looking to install new sights be aware that Trijicon would not stand behind their product, at least in my case.

Here, I'll fix it for ya...

So if your looking to install new sights be aware that Trijicon would not stand behind their product if it has been filed on or altered by someone, at least in my case.

Fixed!

 

The first mistake the Hi Power owner made was relying on a well meaning hobbyist to install his sights.
Now the job is buggered and somebody is stuck with a set of ruined sights that are likely no good to anybody. Given the proper skills, an anvil can be dovetailed onto the top of a Hi Power.
Assigning blame to Trijicon seems backwards to me. Trijicon makes a good product.
What happens to their product after shipment isn't their fault.
Somebody needs to take responsibility here, and it isn't Trijicon.

Your Mileage May Vary, I drive a Hemi. - And I don't let hobbyists work on it.

 

The first mistake the Hi Power owner made was relying on a well meaning hobbyist to install his sights.
Now the job is buggered and somebody is stuck with a set of ruined sights that are likely no good to anybody. Given the proper skills, a anvil can be dovetailed onto the top of a Hi Power.
Assigning blame to Trijicon seems backwards to me. Trijicon makes a good product.
What happens to their product after shipment isn't their fault.
Somebody needs to take responsibility here, and it isn't Trijicon.

Your Mileage May Vary, I drive a Hemi. - And I don't let hobbyists work on it.

But dude, I have a "universal" sight tool...I'm way serious about it. Would a hobbyist own one of those or assume that every set of sights is an easy fit?

 

Sorry, but I have to pile on. I'm with Trijicon on this one.

 

Kodadek,

True dat, Bro. My bad, fer sure! :dope:

Since we're both down with tools, Bro, here's one I got me t' git them gnarly recoil springs stuffed back in -

 

Superlative, outstanding...very apropos:rofl:On a serious note I think I finally gleaned some GOOD information from a gun rag. The latest edition of American Handgunner, and yes, I do indeed buy that rag from time to time along with a few others if the articles look entertaining (this time of the year I call it deer stand material). Ted Yost ran an article and he showed himself fitting sights with chunks of wood. I plan on testing this out myself hopefully on the rear sight of a new G34 next month.

Chuntaro, you are correct this should be approached with some seriousness but I've grown quite sick of individuals who are quick to blame a company for their mistake.

Yes, I have screwed up installing parts. I did the bulk of this on cars when I was a scrawny lad of thirteen under the supervision of my father and he forced me to learn the wide-wide world of automobiles. It sucks, you feel like an idiot, and blaming Napa is a pretty easy out until you're talking to someone that knows a thing or five.

A good example was a co-worker I had after just after I left active-duty. This fellow continually replaced fuel sensors in his truck, swearing up and down that the wiring was all bad or that NAPA had given him bad sensors. I casually mentioned hooking it up to a multimeter or better still a computer (a quick diagnosis is fairly inexpensive even at a dealership) sure enough his mass flow sensor was the culprit and he had thrown away five perfectly good sensors in as many months.

Mind you he refused to get the thing diagnosed to avoid paying the cost at an auto-shop for three months after I suggested it. It took his wife threatening to put his precious truck up for sale that forced him to take her in. Even then he somehow tried to blame Napa even though the culprit sensor was factory original. I have a deep loathing for folks that cannot own up to what they've done and this reminds me very much of that fellow.

Now admittedly the OP did not bin the fouled up sights and sent them back to Trijicon unlike the aforementioned idiot with the sensors; however, to expect a company to take back an altered product and then complain about it and impugn Trijicon is just bad form in my book.

 

Let's take it easy fellas....

There maybe more than we're hearing in this story....

Also, if I had only fit sights to Glocks and other modern guns, I might not get this. IMO, modern guns of a single maker probably have more consistent dovtails, therefore aftermarket sights would be less oversized. The may all push in fine.

Hey OP, don't quit after 2 posts....generally we are a little more receptive...

 

Let's take it easy fellas....

There maybe more than we're hearing in this story....

Naw, let's not.
If there was more to the story then he had his chance to write it.
People who damage merchandise and then try to return it and have the maker pay for their mistakes are
A] Dishonest
and
B] Cause the rest of us to pay more down the line to make up the difference.

It's kind of insulting, really, that the OP expected the rest of us would rally to his cause and endorse his position. In fact, I just went online and ordered a set of Trijicon sights for a future project. I admire a company that doesn't kowtow to scammers.

 

Nathan, any quality part should be slightly over sized to facilitate the perfect fit. Be it a proprietary cut for that manufacturer or something as ubiquitous as the Novak Cut. Precision machining the sights that Trijicon makes would be exorbitantly more expensive, and I am certain they have QC personnel that measure sights every x-number of hours or numbers produced with a caliper. There is going to be a varying degree of difference between cuts.

For example the first sight I mill with a particular bit to the last are certainly going to have different dimensions as the tool will slowly wear. I don't care if it's for my one of a kind sight cut and sights or not and I've fit sights in a variety of cuts thank you oh so much. The same goes for the sights and they even offer a nice little disclaimer about possibly have an actual smith fit the parts for you since sights will require fitting.

There's nothing else to this story except that someone does not wish to take credit for their foul-up and somehow they thought Trijicon was at fault or they sought validation in this belief and found none. Hubris is a rather silly thing. Well not by any means a moderate or if we're still using Greek philosophical terms, "Sophrosyne" is not my strong suit either but I don't try to blame others for my mistakes, much less direct allegations towards a company that from what I can tell did nothing that I would not have done myself.

 

Kodadek:

I do not mind a little humor but it was my feeling that many a reader might not understand the ramifications of what was being said. If you look at all the sub forums here, you see that sight install and sight replacement generates a large number of questions. It was my hope that those not wanting to raise their hands might gain a little more insight from what I added. That is all and I believe it differs from your interpretation of what I was saying.

 

I understand where you were coming from. You were indeed trying to educate and believe me when I say that I've lost count of the sheer number of posts where people are confused with, curious about, or considering installing their won sights. I sometimes do like to educate people, I really do love teaching new shooters, and I like to learn new things for my own benefit.

I just dislike the notion that someone would openly speak out about a company refusing to accept a product altered by said customer, as if the company had done something heinous or unseemly. Believe me if this was a case of the sights coming with dim lamps, having a serious defect, and the company refusing to replace a faulty product I would be inclined to treat it a bit more seriously. That said I've also had this conversation with a fellow,

Me: "This thumb safety looks like someone used a dremel (1911 manual safety from C&S, for the guys Colt 70's repro that also had a drop-in beavertail and marred EGW sights...the sort of gun I dread seeing in photographs or at gunshows)."

The other guy: "uh...no...I filed on the lug, it must be defective."

Me, "What did you file with?"

The other guy, "Uh...you know, a file,"

Me, "What kind of file? Did it have a cord a variable speeds?"

The other guy, now visibly red, "Well, I might have dremeled it a little but so and so said it would be okay."

Yeah, this was the conversation that made me realize that as much as I like working on my own guns that I had no desire to fix crap for idiots my whole life. Hence I pulled my classes for the next year at Pine Tech, signed myself back up for regular courses, and bid the world of gunsmithing or at least the idea of doing it professionally adieu. It is clearly for men with a deeper well of patience and understanding than I will ever possess. Lord help me if I have children. Though I do apologize for being flippant as proper installation of any part on a gun is truly not a laughing matter.

 

I didn't read all posts......that being said:




I know YOU can install them faster.....but if you send the slide to Trijicon...


THEY INSTALL THEM FOR FREE!




I'm done.

 

Well it seems the guy does only have two posts. Maybe he is a fan of the competition. Meprolite or something like that I believe that are called. I am kind of ready for mod delete on this one since it does clearly fall into the grievance category. It does not really have anything to do with the hi power for anyone that understands sight installs. I wonder what the other post was about.:scratch:

 

I also don't think he understands that installing a sight on a fixed sighted weapon is a tad bit different than on a weapon with adjustable sights where the sight height is less critical.

In the fixed sighted weapon, not only does the sight have to fit the dovetail, but it has to be fitted in a way that the overall height is exactly what is needed for the desired vertical POI.

And you have to do this while making sure the dovetail fit is not destroyed.

 

Well in a question that seems to indicate a lack of understanding of the effect of sight radius vs mechanical accuracy, maybe pushing sights was not the best choice of hobbies. Everybody has to start somewhere I know but you can get in over your head real quick without a good understanding of how things work in DIY endeavors. Sights and safeties are both good examples.

 

I'm not trying to defend the guy. I'm merely suggesting we don't crucify a guy with 2 posts. It makes this forum seem unfriendly.

Having fit several sets of sights and having an engineering background I completely understand why they didn't fit.

Also, just by being around others, I see how many people without much forum reading experience would think, I had better return those sights.

So, all this pile on activity isn't helping....that's all.

Anyways....carry on...

 

I'm not trying to defend the guy. I'm merely suggesting we don't crucify a guy with 2 posts.

Agreed, but he's been a member since 2010.......

 

I do not think there has been a crucifixion. In light of the context of the original post and title; it has been somewhat fair really. A level playing field if you will. I am not a fan of night sights or the Trijicon take on what a Bhp sight body for them should look like. The fellow posted the problem in the form of a grievance. He felt his prior experience with pushing was superior to the collective experience in the forum. The gunsmith section is a valuable resource. For example:

I have pushed sights before with my pushing tool but have come across some that are not going in with the pusher tool. How do I solve for x? Is this normal?

If a guy post a picture of a screwed up sight install on the gun he took to a smith; no person defends the smith. As in well maybe the smith did not have the proper experience or technical training.

I bought a hi power on the cheap with a screwed up sight install with the very same sights. The slide was filed and altered. The sights were filed on and then they were hammered or pushed in against so much resistance slide metal was displaced. I did not believe this to be the fault of the sight maker or the pawn shop selling the gun, unless they were the installer. I knew it could be rescued with a heinie rear, an oversized front blank and a little judicious adjustment to the displaced metal of the slide around the front sight. I did not DIY. I took it to someone with a track record.

I think I share your view that this has not been the greatest thread in history. However, it may serve to help a hi power and an individual willing to read and ask questions first.

 

I do not think there has been a crucifixion...

I think I share your view that this has not been the greatest thread in history. However, it may serve to help a hi power and an individual willing to read and ask questions first.

Exactly!

 

Take it for what it's worth, but the OP posted 2 days ago and hasn't been heard from since......almost sounds like a troll.

 

Or someone dissatisfied with the profound lack of individuals in accordance with them. Some people want rounds of adulation and agreement. Tell them they are wrong and they cannot process or handle it. Nothingis more disgusting, than a man so in love with himself and so filled with delusions of adequacy that he is incapable of realizing he is the one at fault. We've got guys that have been on here for over a decade with very few posts so I never just assume it's a troll...yelling troll has become the great cop out of the internet age. I'm leaning (and like you I confess that I am guessing) that they joined, watched from afar and lurked, and suddenly they ran into a problem or a question and they told and asked respectively. Sometimes you get the answer you need and deserve and not the answer you want to hear. Some fellows are not keen on this and decide it is not worth their while.

Nathan, the gentleman was rather candid about the events leading up to him learning that companies don't often warranty non-defective products or those that you alter. I do not care if you have one post or one-million, some folks just aren't going to assign the blame where it belongs, certainly not if it belongs with them. I reserve all coddling for infants, my dogs, and wounded animals and everyone else is just S.O.L.