The Daniel Defense A1.5 is a fixed rear iron sight for AR-15 and M4 rifles, mounting to any Military Specification flat-top upper receiver.
Daniel Defense describes the A1.5 as the optimum backup iron sight for shooters using today's most popular reflex optics, and the reason is its profile: it is lightweight and streamlined enough to sit under a red dot without cluttering the sight picture. It also accommodates M4-type rifles without interfering with charging handle operation, which is the practical failure of a tall rear sight and the thing you only discover after fitting one.
Construction is one piece, machined from 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum with a Military Specification Hard Coat Anodized finish. It installs on a flat-top upper with a slotted fastener threaded into a self-locking steel insert, so there is no separate nut to lose and nothing to work loose in use. It weighs 1.7 oz (48 g).
How It Compares
Its matching front is the Daniel Defense Rail Mounted Fixed Front Sight. If you need both, they also come together as the Daniel Defense Rock & Lock AR-15 Iron Sight Set, which contains this rear sight and that front sight.
Key Features
- Streamlined for reflex optics — sits under a red dot without dominating the window
- Clears the charging handle — designed to work on M4-type rifles without fouling it
- One-piece construction — nothing hinged, nothing sprung, nothing to deploy
- 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum — Military Specification Hard Coat Anodized
- Self-locking steel thread insert — a slotted fastener into a secured insert, not a bare tapped hole
- 1.7 oz (48 g) — the weight of a backup sight should be forgettable
Compatibility & Fitment
Fits any Military Specification flat-top upper receiver on AR-15/M4 rifles, and secures with a slotted fastener threaded into a self-locking steel insert. It is a fixed, non-folding sight, so it stands proud at all times — suited to a dedicated iron-sight rifle or a permanently deployed backup behind a red dot, rather than to a rifle wearing a large magnified scope.
Technical Specifications
Platform | AR-15 / M4 |
Fits | Military Specification flat-top upper receiver |
Type | Fixed rear iron sight (Rock & Lock®) |
Material | 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum |
Finish | Military Specification Hard Coat Anodized |
Weight | 1.7 oz (48 g) |
Mount Interface | Slotted fastener into a self-locking steel thread insert, on a flat-top upper receiver |
Brand | Daniel Defense |
US Shipping & Support
Shipped from D&R Sports Center in the USA with fast, tracked delivery. Questions on fit, mounting or which model suits your setup? Our team is glad to help before and after your purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it clear my charging handle?
Yes — Daniel Defense specifically states it accommodates M4-type rifles without interfering with charging handle operation.
Does it fold?
No, it is a fixed sight. There is nothing to deploy and nothing sprung to fatigue, which is why it suits a dedicated iron-sight rifle or a backup left permanently upright behind a reflex optic. If you run a large magnified scope, a folding sight is the better choice.
How does it attach?
It is one piece and installs on any Military Specification flat-top upper receiver using a slotted fastener threaded into a self-locking steel insert, so there is no separate nut underneath the rail.
