No1MKIII rears site tilted...

[berger]

I just picked up a No1MkIII and when looking down the barrel, I noticed that the rear sight is slightly off (the entire assembly). It is tilted slightly to the right. Everything looks good, except for that. I did disassemble the rifle, but I cannot figue out how to remove the rear sight. Even if I could adjust it without removing it, that would be fine. I cannot remove the site-arm pin as it is really in there. I did remove the tiny retaining pin that holds the larger front site-arm pin. Is there another, longer pin to be removed near the back of the site, opposite the pivot point?

Do I need to compress the flat spring to get the pin out and is there another screw under the spring? There does appear to be a whole in the flat spring, as visible when the sight is flipped up, but no screw head.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[tiriaq]

The sight arm pivots at the front of the sight base. Its pivot pin will be secured with a collar and a small cross pin.
The sight base is secured to the barrel with a cross pin that actually passes through the top of the barrel, and with a vertical screw that engages a recess in the top of the barrel.
Sounds as if the screw is missing. With the sight base cross pin out, can you rotate the sight on the barrel until it is correct?

 

[Claven2]

It's also possible the barrel isn't properly indexed. Is the front sight post also canted?

 

[berger]

Thanks for the replys guys, I will take a look tonight. Didn't want to mess with it until I posted.

I have tried to punch out the cross pin, but my punch isn't taperred enough. Any ideas on what I can use to punch it out?

 

[David K]

.... It's been a loooong time since I took a rear sight off, but if memory serves, there is a pin, that fits into a groove on the barrel, so unless, either the barrel is NOT indexed properly, or the "pin" has sheered allowing the sight to move. If not Indexed, then the fore sight should also be canted the same amount/direction as the rear. One other possibility, is that the Protective ears ( one or the other ) have become bent, creating the impression that the actual rear sight is off square. If the ears are bent, disassemble the whole fore end and take the "ears" off to straighten! IF and it's a big IF the rear sight pin has sheered, you MIGHT be able to verify it by tapping lightly on the side to see if there's movement, or even tapping it forward , with dis-assembling the fore-end ! Go really lightly on the tapping !!! ..... David K.

 

[berger]

.... It's been a loooong time since I took a rear sight off, but if memory serves, there is a pin, that fits into a groove on the barrel, so unless, either the barrel is NOT indexed properly, or the "pin" has sheered allowing the sight to move. If not Indexed, then the fore sight should also be canted the same amount/direction as the rear. One other possibility, is that the Protective ears ( one or the other ) have become bent, creating the impression that the actual rear sight is off square. If the ears are bent, disassemble the whole fore end and take the "ears" off to straighten! IF and it's a big IF the rear sight pin has sheered, you MIGHT be able to verify it by tapping lightly on the side to see if there's movement, or even tapping it forward , with dis-assembling the fore-end ! Go really lightly on the tapping !!! ..... David K.

I am not sure what "indexing" means exactly, but the fore sight is not off like the rear sight. The ears actually look VG, and since I disassembled the rifle, I am able to look down the barrel, with only the fore sight, rear sight and butt stock still on, yet it is still off. I tried to tap it over to the left, with a rubber mallett, but she won't budge and the pivot/retaining pin won't budge either.

Can you recommend something I can use to remove the pin?

Thanks again!!

 

[David K]

... Indexing, basically, is the barrel screwed in straight ( and back to the shoulders etc. ) ..... Anyway, it would be somewhat unlikely that everything would still be tight as far as the rear sight goes, and for it to still be off. The pin goes right across and ensures that the rear sight is "square" to the front sight and barrel. ( It's either through a small hole or a grove ) as to drifting it out, try soaking in WD40, Kroil, or my favorite (cheapest ) Marvels Miracle Oil. If none of these are handy, REMOVE all the wood and try a little heat and gentle tapping. I really don't remember if the retaining pin is tapered or straight, I did once use a nail with the point ground flat, but use a proper punch if at all possible... easier, and safer ! Use padding around the barrel when you put it in a vise to try tapping the pin. One other possibility, I suppose, is that the actual rear sight is bent, either the arm or the "little wall with the notch"... leaf, is ####-eyed because it's retaining screw loosened. ..... Even if you did get the rear sight off , you then have a real problem to take it off the barrel without a hack saw, and then there's the challenge of replacing it ! .... With, and this is a generality, SMLEs, look for the simple things/fixes first. They were built to be "soldier proof" and they've certainly stood the test of time ! ..... David K.