My favorite front sight insert is a polished gold inlay or bead. Gold shows up well in low light and against dark targets, and if it fades, a quick polish will make it shine like a rapper's gold tooth. They don't perform as well as tritium in extreme low light conditions, but if it's that dark, you can't identify your target anyway. Unless the shadowy form is a sure-enough threat, I wouldn't shoot without some sort of light, in which case the tritium would be a non-issue.

Flat gold inlays are nice because they allow a little more precision on long shots than a big bead. However, most of my pistols are built for daily carry, so I opt for a bright, polished gold bead on the majority of my custom builds. In all but pitch dark, that highly polished gold bead stands out like a tie-dyed Grateful Dead shirt at the Republican National Convention.

If they have a downside, it's that gold inlays aren't cheap. That has more to do with the effort required to form and install them than the price of gold, but either way, the end result is a fairly pricey front sight. Still, if you want the ultimate in front sight versatility and durability, a gold bead or inlay is tough to beat.

Whether you're ordering a new factory gun, commissioning a custom or customizing an existing blaster, consider your mission carefully before selecting your front sight. It's a lot more important than you might think.