Front Sight Help

[TarponStalker]

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.

 

[zerosprk]

Adapt and overcome...I like it alot!

 

[smo]

Whatever works

 

[Spikebuck]

For my eyes fluorescent yellow has always been my go to color whether sights or feathers on my arrows.

 

[smo]

I like a silver front sight , especially on a cloudy day.

 

[Winterhawk]

I put white fingernail polish on mine and it works well. I'll have to look for yellow and try that!

 

[Magungo1066]

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.

 

[TDM]

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.

 

[Twowithone]

I painted my front site flourescent orange sticks out good.

 

[hanshi]

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.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I think in the late 18th and early 19th century they'd do what they had to...so did you. Well done.

 

[Timber Wolf]

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.