I've got a couple .22 barrels that need front sight dovetails cut, and would appreciate any recommendations for gunsmiths who can do it right. (One barrel needs to be redone thanks to a canted front sight...) Just trying to get some Tech-Sights installed so that I've got a couple extra loaners for Appleseed events.

CPC can't do it, and Class 3 Machining is too booked to do it, and while CPA Rifles looked promising they stopped responding after a few emails.

Update: CPA responded and said they'll do it, will update with pics eventually.

For barrels without a dovetail, I have one of these.

Couple pillar files, a hacksaw, and some stones, you should be able to kick it out in an hour. For a canted front sight, easiest thing to do would be to cut back the barrel and go, if you have enough barrel. If not, you're limited to pulling and re-indexing the barrel.

I'm the kind of person who shouldn't be trusted with cutting tools, but I may give this a shot if I can't find a gunsmith in the next month or so. I've got a barrel stub to practice on, but there's no guaranteeing I won't end up with a couple newly canted front sights anyway.

I wish I could help you with a smith, but all mine have retired.

If you end up doing it yourself, take it slow. Be prepared to walk away if you get flustered or frustrated. The hardest part is going to be getting TDC marked. Once you get past the mental hurdle of, "I can do this", it's all downhill.

Any Smith can handle this.  If he can't, he's not a Smith.

You'd think, but no one I've reached out to will take it on. Latest guy (well-respected, and I know firsthand that he does excellent work) said it wouldn't be worth the time and effort to do because it'd end up costing more than a new barrel. Everyone seems to have specialized in more lucrative things like barrel threading these days.