Firearm sight

Abstract

A sight for a firearm is provided. The sight is structured to fit within a channel defined within the firearm. In some examples, the channel is defined within the slide of a semi automatic handgun. The sight includes a base that fits within the channel, and a visual index portion extending outward from the base. A removable firearm component blocks an open end of the channel, thereby retaining the sight, when the removable firearm component is installed on the firearm. In some examples, a rear sight may be secured within a channel defined within a slide by a firing pin stop. In other examples, a front sight may be secured within a channel defined within a slide by a barrel bushing. Some examples of the sight may include an adjustment mechanism for moving the visual index portion with respect to the base.

1 . A slide assembly for a firearm, comprising:
 a slide having a front end and a back end;   a channel defined within the slide, the channel having an open end disposed at the front end of the slide, a closed end disposed opposite the open end, and a pair of channel sides extending therebetween, the channel having a closed bottom surface and open top, the bottom surface having a bottom channel width defined in a direction that is substantially equiangular to the channel sides, the open top having a top channel width defined in a direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom channel width, the bottom channel width being greater than the top channel width;   a sight having a base and a visual index portion, the base fitting within the channel by an interference fit, the visual index portion extending outward from the base;   a removable slide assembly component that covers the open end of the channel, the removable slide assembly component securing at least one other firearm component in place, the removable slide assembly component having no portion of a sight-retaining channel defined thereon; and   the base being dimensioned and configured to resist movement of the base in any direction except towards or away from the open end of the channel when the base is within the channel and the removable slide assembly component is removed from the slide;   whereby removal of the sight from the slide is resisted by interaction of the channel, the base, and the removable slide assembly component, and removal of the removable slide assembly component permits removal of the sight by finger pressure alone.   
     
     
         2 . The slide assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable slide component is a barrel bushing. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The slide assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the slide defines a longitudinal axis; and   the channel extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slide.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The slide assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises:
 a lower base portion defining a lower base width extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom channel width when the base is installed within the channel, the lower base width being greater than the top channel width;   an upper base portion defining an upper base width extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the lower base width, the upper base width being smaller than the lower base width.   
     
     
         7 . A firearm, comprising:
 a channel defined within an exterior surface of a sight supporting component of the firearm, the sight supporting component holding at least one internal firearm component in place within the firearm, the channel having an open end disposed at one end of the exterior surface, a closed end disposed opposite the open end, and a pair of sides extending therebetween, the channel having a closed bottom surface and open top, the bottom surface having a bottom channel width defined in a direction that is substantially equiangular to the channel sides, the top having a top channel width defined in a direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom channel width, the bottom channel width being greater than the top channel width;   a front sight having a base and a visual index portion, the base fitting within the channel by an interference fit, the visual index portion extending outward from the base; and   a removable firearm component that covers the open end of the channel, the removable firearm component securing at least one other firearm component in place, the removable firearm component having no portion of a sight-retaining channel defined thereon; and   the base being dimensioned and configured to resist movement of the base in any direction except towards or away from the open end of the channel when the base is within the channel and the removable firearm component is removed from the firearm;   whereby removal of the front sight from the sight supporting component is resisted by interaction of the channel, the base, and the removable firearm component, and removal of the removable firearm component permits removal of the front sight by finger pressure alone.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The firearm according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the firearm defines a longitudinal axis; and   the channel extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firearm.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The firearm according to  claim 7 , wherein the base further comprises:
 a lower base portion defining a lower base width extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom channel width when the base is installed within the channel, the lower base width being greater than the top channel width;   an upper base portion defining an upper base width extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the lower base width, the upper base width being smaller than the lower base width.   
     
     
         12 . The firearm according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the sight supporting component is located within a forward portion of the firearm; and   the channel is defined within the portion of the sight supporting component that is located within the forward portion of the firearm.   
     
     
         13 . The firearm according to  claim 7 , wherein the sight supporting component defines a front end and a back end, and the open end of the channel is disposed at the front end of the sight supporting component. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm according to  claim 7 , wherein the sight supporting component defines a front portion and a back portion, and the channel is disposed within the front portion of the sight supporting component.