HD-003 S/U/G Retro rear sight

Retro rear sight for USGI spec dovetail

 

 

Please Read:

Sights are not "drop-in" parts, especially for 1911 pistols. There are so many companies, large and small, manufacturing 1911 pistols today and they all have different ideas about dimensional consistency in the sight cut. In addition, theUSGI rear sight dovetail that everyone assumes is the same was actually cut to three different depths over it's production life.

The only way after-market sight manufacturers can provide you with sights is to manufacture their sights and hold their dimensions on the high side of the range commonly encountered. This means that to install sights on 1911s, you often have to "fit" the sight to the sight cut by finding the surface on the sight that is too big and filing it down until the sight can be installed and still fit tightly. Sometimes it's more than a single surface that has to be fitted. There are instructions for fitting and installation as well as zeroing and calculating sight height in the Instructions tab on the home page. Please be aware of what you are undertaking and if you want some help, reach out to me for installation service. The cost is reasonable and the turnaround time is quick.

 

The Harrison Design "Retro" rear sight offers a rear sight that does everything that sights costing many times more do, in a package that fits the original 1911 USGI spec dovetail. Like all Harrison Design sights, the Retro has a flat rear blade surface with horizontal serrations machined at 50 lpi to eliminate glare. The outer corners are rounded to eliminate snags and abrasions. The front face is designed to allow one-handed manipulation of the slide. With an overall height of .320" and a notch measuring .140" x .125", the Retro sight offers a sight picture that allows adequate light in to make rapid sight alignment possible, while not being so large that your ability to make accurate shots is compromised. Originally designed by Ted Yost with design enhancements by Harrison Design, the Retro is the perfect rear sight whether you're building a "Retro" custom or looking for a full-featured, moderately priced rear sight that you don't need special machining capabilities to install.

 

NEW !

The HD-003 Retro rear sight is now available with either a square notch or a U-notch. Same price - twice the goodness!

 

Please Read and Print Out Installation Instructions https://shop.harrisoncustom.com/fitting-retro-sights and Zeroing / Locking Down Instructions   https://shop.harrisoncustom.com/zeroing-your-new-sights

HD-003 Retro rear sight HD-003-S

Retro rear sight - square notch
$36.95

HD-003 Retro rear sight HD-003-U

Retro rear sight - U-notch
$36.95
Picture of HD-003-G

HD-003-G

Retro rear sight - Gunsmith style
$36.95

Existing reviews

Retro Rear Sight
5
My Retro Rear Sight arrived for a customer's Springfield GI. It is a very high quality sight. It installed very easily and looks very good on the gun.  When I test fired the gun, the sight picture was excellent. Great product and great service. Thanks, JT
snommittj@hotmail.com | 10/4/2010 9:34 PM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (0/0)
Superb!
5
Sight picture and speed to get on target are much better with this sight (U-notch) than with others costing more than twice as much and no custom machine work is required. The angle of the sight along with the serrations really help capture any available light. Probably the single best upgrade you can add to any GI 1911. All-around excellent quality in workmanship. The correspondence I received with advice on how best to install the sight was much appreciated. Will definitely be recommending this sight to anyone looking to upgrade a mil spec. GI 1911.
don.heyn@gmail.com | 1/11/2016 10:16 AM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (0/0)
Very sharp sight
5
Fitting was easy and sight picture is crisp. Will buy again.
dbattard@yahoo.com | 9/10/2019 11:12 PM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (0/0)
Good work and improved acquisition.
5
I had John Harrison replace the stock sights on my 2014 SA Mil Spec 1911 as I did not like the stock sights at all: the dots were way too small and the rear notch too narrow for a quick target acquisition imho. Terrible those stock sights. So here's what I had installed:

HD-003-U Retro rear sight -w- U notch.

HD-011-W Harrison Design stake in front sight, serrated improved ramp, wide tenon, .175" tall.

Drill & fit front sight for .094" white dot.

What a huge difference in target acquisition that the wider and larger setup made. Acquisition is much quicker compared with the stock sights and could make a real difference in a deadly encounter. I am very satisfied with his products and work.
tkokosenski@bellsouth.net | 10/4/2019 7:21 AM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (1/0)
Amazing quality
5
I installed this rear sight on my fusion 9mm GI, nice gun but the OEM sights left a lot to be desired.  Install was fairly easy, stone bottom until it starts into the dovetail then use my sight pusher.   Sight picture is great.  One of the best upgrades I have made
Gslamyerc@aol.com | 11/15/2021 5:53 PM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (0/0)
Retro U Sight
5
Excellent product. Improved sight picture vs. the G.I. rear sight on the Colt Series 70. Easy to install. Aesthetics, looks better and how the rear sight should have been designed by Colt, but that’s subjective.
dharrisonhardy@gmail.com | 5/7/2024 4:57 PM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (0/0)
Great rear sight!
5
Sights look great.  Got out to the range yesterday, and the pistol is awesome. The sights are perfectly regulated (you ARE the master) and now that I can actually see the front sight, the pistol is a joy to shoot.  Combat Commander 9mm is fun!

The retro rear is my favorite sight.  I have it on a few 1911s.  Your white dot stake-on ins the best white dot I’ve had.  While I am still partial to a white ball front sight (I almost always am stuck with indoor ranges), I find that your white dot front is a really close substitute.

john@HarrisonCustom.com | 11/11/2024 8:47 PM
Was this review helpful? Yes No (0/0)
Only registered users can write reviews