sight removal on No1 Enfield

[Workin Man]

I am trying to remove the front and rear sights on an old bubba'd No1 rifle. I got the pins out that hold them in place, but they are still on there pretty solid. I also removed a screw under the hinged part of the rear sight, but I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with holding the sight in place. What do I need to do to get these loose? Heat?

 

[josquin]

Aarrrgghhh... I get the "Mks" and "Nºs" mixed up... I presume you mean a WWI vintage Lee-Enfield? (See http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl04-e.htm; I'm referring to the Mk.III* or SMLE Nº1 Mk.III) If so, I went through the same thing with a barrel I had put on a Martini-Enfield as a replacement for the original one, which was shot out. (The threads are the same.)

Getting some penetrating oil under the parts for a few hours may help. The front sight band and base should come off by tapping the block forward, off the muzzle. There is a small "key" (through which the front sight pin passes) which sits longitudinally under the sight, fitting into a groove in the barrel and the sight base. IIRC, it has a tiny ledge at one end which stops the sight block from going back on too far when you are reassembling it; this also indicates which end is which.

The rear sight should likewise come off by tapping it forward, once you've got the cross-pin out as well as the small screw that goes into the barrel, visible by lifting the rear sight up.

A little heat might be helpful, too. if they are particularly recalcitrant. I didn't need to use any on mine, though.

Stuart

 

[sunray]

"...I get the...mixed up..." It's simple. The No.1's rear sight is on the barrel. The No. 4's is on the receiver. Plus the No. 1 has no bayonet lug on the barrel.
"...need to do to get..." The sight blade sits in a dove tail. It comes out the side on either a No. 1 or No. 4. The rear sight on a No.1 should just lift out when all the screws are out. No heat required.

 

[Workin Man]

Aarrrgghhh... I get the "Mks" and "Nºs" mixed up... I presume you mean a WWI vintage Lee-Enfield? (See http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl04-e.htm; I'm referring to the Mk.III* or SMLE Nº1 Mk.III) If so, I went through the same thing with a barrel I had put on a Martini-Enfield as a replacement for the original one, which was shot out. (The threads are the same.)

Getting some penetrating oil under the parts for a few hours may help. The front sight band and base should come off by tapping the block forward, off the muzzle. There is a small "key" (through which the front sight pin passes) which sits longitudinally under the sight, fitting into a groove in the barrel and the sight base. IIRC, it has a tiny ledge at one end which stops the sight block from going back on too far when you are reassembling it; this also indicates which end is which.

The rear sight should likewise come off by tapping it forward, once you've got the cross-pin out as well as the small screw that goes into the barrel, visible by lifting the rear sight up.

A little heat might be helpful, too. if they are particularly recalcitrant. I didn't need to use any on mine, though.

Stuart

Yes its a No1 MkIII (1915 BSA). Thanks for the help, I'll soak it down with liquid wrench and let it sit overnight then try tapping them off.

 

[josquin]

"...I get the...mixed up..." It's simple. The No.1's rear sight is on the barrel. The No. 4's is on the receiver. Plus the No. 1 has no bayonet lug on the barrel.

Thanks, Sunray. I shouldn't have included the Nº4 as I have one. It's the earlier ones that I'm not familiar with, aside from the barrel I put on the Martini:

If he had a Nº4 he'd have to make a special slotted driver to loosen the front sight dovetail.

... The rear sight on a No.1 should just lift out when all the screws are out. No heat required.

The rear sight assembly on mine is on a steel band with a crosspin and a small screw to hold it in place, so it has to be driven forward and off the barrel, after removing the front sight, of course.

Stuart