The Original CZ Forum

GENERAL => CZ Gunsmithing => Topic started by: stagesmith on March 10, 2020, 03:45:10 AM

Title: Handgun Sight Dovetails - Here they are
Post by: stagesmith on March 10, 2020, 03:45:10 AM

I spent some time collecting these a few years ago.
It is insane how secretive gun companies are with these dimensions when anybody can just pop a sight out and measure it.
Anyway if anybody wants to add to this collection I'll post a followup that explains how to measure dovetails or you can find the youtube tutorials.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129065511@N02/albums/72157713432384107

Title: Re: Handgun Sight Dovetails - Here they are
Post by: rckendall on March 10, 2020, 07:37:21 AM

Not sure what I would ever do with this information, but I certainly enjoy looking and trying to absorb what I can from it. I'll watch for your follow-up post on how to measure the dovetails.

Thanks for sharing,
Richard

Title: Re: Handgun Sight Dovetails - Here they are
Post by: jurek on March 10, 2020, 09:14:29 AM

Good info stagesmith.

This can be useful before changing the sights, where website description is not clear enough.
I've already seen bad recommendations for sights, and you can be very surprised after you mount them on the firearm  :o

For CZs I've been using this link as my reference:
https://czcustom.com/cz-parts-all/front-and-rear-sights/cz-rear-sights-all.html?dir=asc&mode=list&order=bestsellers

 

Title: Re: Handgun Sight Dovetails - Here they are
Post by: Here2learn on March 10, 2020, 01:11:09 PM

This gives me the potential to tell if Sig sights will work on my other CZ clone, TZ 99.

Title: Re: Handgun Sight Dovetails - Here they are
Post by: tdogg on March 10, 2020, 08:04:50 PM

I noticed that you list the front sight dovetail depth of the CZ75 at .065 inch.  I think that may be true for the SP01 and shadow variants but the standard CZ75 )(and the other variants) should be 0.085 inch deep.  I learned the hard way (once).

Reference:
https://dawsonprecision.com/sights/cz-sights/

Cheers,
Toby

Title: Re: Handgun Sight Dovetails - Here they are
Post by: stagesmith on March 12, 2020, 08:51:04 PM

I found it interesting that Tanfoglio, CZ and SAR all used the same cutter for the front sight dovetail, but the depths were different.
For the SAR K2 45 I used a S&W M&P rear sight which technically was a different dovetail but did work with a shim under it.

This quest for dovetail dimensions was spurred by my need for fiber optic sights on my handguns due to crappy near vision.
The RAMI challenge was especially tricky, but I love the TFX sights I adapted.
I will never understand a gun company's need to invent a new dovetail. So frustrating.

Measuring Dovetails with Pin Wires

There are a few Youtube Videos on measuring dovetails with pins
This one rambles a bit, but gets there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsqPZkWuGVA

This Engineering site gives a shorter explanation

https://www.engineersedge.com/mechanical,045tolerances/measuring_and_designing_dovetail_slides_14212.htm

What I used was an Android app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.twogeeksonline.dovetailcalculator&hl=en_US

Here is another one

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webmachinist.dovetailmeasuringcalculator&hl=en_US

You use thread measuring pin wires

https://www.amazon.com/HHIP-4200-0241-Piece-Thread-Measuring/dp/B01BHHX6C8/r

I find a 4" digital caliper is fastest.

I also made a special set of angle gauges to verify the dovetail angle

I started with this set

https://www.amazon.com/Angle-Gauge-1-45%C2%B0-20-Blades/dp/B001PMWOOM/

and just removed metal on one side of each leaf to allow the tip to go down into the dovetail

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129065511@N02/49652974863/in/dateposted-public/