SKU: 80770375
UPC: 050806101593
The Rifle Sight Dovetail Slot Blank from Brownells fills the empty dovetail left behind when you pull a factory iron sight, swap to a peep, or move to an optic. It's a length of mild steel cut to fit nominal 3/8 inch (9.52 mm) x 60° dovetails, the standard cut found on most rifle barrels. Gunsmiths and shooters who want a clean barrel profile after removing a rear sight reach for a part like this. It also sees steady use in antique and vintage rifle restoration, where filling an old slot returns the barrel to its original look. Pair it with the right sights when you're reconfiguring a build.
This blank is machined slightly oversize, which is the point. The extra material gives you stock to file and stone down for a close, blended fit in the dovetail rather than a loose drop-in that shows a gap. It comes as a 12 inch (30.4 cm) length of mild steel with a blued finish, so you can cut off what you need and work several barrels from one piece. Mild steel files, peens, and takes cold blue or rust blue easily, letting you match the finish on the surrounding barrel once the blank is fitted and dressed flush. Drive it in from the correct side, file the top contour to follow the barrel, then blue. It's a fitting job, not a bolt-on, and the oversize stock is what makes a tight result possible.
Use this when you've removed a rear sight in favor of a scope and want to close the slot, when you're restoring an old lever gun or single-shot to factory appearance, or when you need raw stock to file a custom filler. Because it's sold as a length, one blank covers multiple projects. Once the barrel slot is filled and dressed, it's a logical time to set up your scope mounts and scope rings for the new optic. If you'd rather replace the iron rather than fill the slot, browse our other dovetail sight parts in the same category.
It fits nominal 3/8 inch (9.52 mm) x 60° dovetails, the standard sight cut on most rifle barrels. The blank is machined slightly oversize so you can file it down for a close, blended fit rather than a loose drop-in.
It requires fitting. The blank is intentionally cut oversize, so you file and stone the extra material for a tight fit, then dress the top to follow the barrel contour. This is a gunsmithing task, not a bolt-on part.
Yes. It's mild steel with a blued finish that files and peens easily and accepts cold blue or rust blue. Once the blank is fitted and dressed flush, you can finish it to match the surrounding barrel.
Filling the slot closes the gap left after removing a rear sight for a scope, restores the original look on antique and vintage rifles, and gives a clean barrel profile. It also keeps debris out of the open cut.
The blank ships as a 12 inch (30.4 cm) length of mild steel. You cut off what you need for the slot, so a single piece can fill dovetails on several barrels.
WARNING ⚠️ You must be 18 or older to purchase shotgun or rifle ammunition and 21 or older to purchase handgun ammunition and firearms. Please reference our requirements for ammunition orders to "restricted" states HERE. Always make sure you use the correct ammunition for your firearms. Ammo cannot be shipped to a PO Box. Please reference state & local laws before making a firearm or ammunition purchase.
