Can the front sight on this BHP be changed without having the slide dovetailed? The sights seems to be pressed on because it doesn't have a dovetail cut in the slide. I am wanting to change the front and rear to a lower profile sight for carrying.

That front is either silver soldered on or brazed on, I can't recall which.

Some HP's had the front sight pinned in place.

Try asking here:

forums.1911forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15

It is silver soldered on.

There should be two small dots in front of the sight to show the solder points.  It is not going anywhere unless you milled it off.  You can try and torch it off, but you will disfigure the slide, which will require a new blue job.

I had a Portugese assembled BHP and absolutely hated the Millet rear sight for the same reason as you......I bought a Browning adjustable rear sight......the cheapy looking sheet metal one and put it on my slide and I was happy.......it was lower and I kept the front sight.....which is thicker and seems to help with accuracy.  It cost me $26 total.

I only shoot one kind of 9mm ammo......free US Navy 147 grain JHP and it is zeroed for it.

the first time I went to the range to sight it in......10 people came up to me to buy it!!

Seems "Serpico" just played on TNT and my BHP looked like his.......I saw the flick and it was true......

I liked it even more.

Hope it helps.  

The front sight on the slide in your picture is a Millet "Dual Crimp". It is crimped in place after two holes are machined through the slide. It is very easy to remove, just pull it off with some pliers. You may then replace it with another dual crimp as desired. This is simple, quick, and cheap, but limits you to the use of a Millet front sight.

The only way to repair the holes to have them TIG welded closed, which will destroy the finish in that area. Once the holes are repaired you can machine a dovetail and refinish as desired.

The image below illustrates the dual crimp front sight in the bottom right corner.

John