US Model of 1917 Help

[sgt_hebert]

Hi everyone,

I have a US Model of 1917 (aka p17) which had been sporterized long time ago. I've bought every piece missing/altered but I can't remove the front sight. I've remove the cross pin but the front sight is stuck. I've tried liquid wrench, heat and smashing it with a hammer but it won't move, not even a little.

Can someone help me?

 

[cosmic]

hydraulic press

 

[mkrnel]

Place a copper penny over the muzzle first

 

[woodchopper]

I second the hydralic press. They are tight.

 

[purple]

Agree with the mechanical puller. This is essentially the same method used to pull M1 Carbine front sights which also use a key and cross pin to secure them. Sights can be driven off once the pin is removed, but you can booger them a bit in the process. Use penetrating oil no matter what method you use.

 

[davemccarthy707]

Mouse milk is your friend. http://www.mousemilk.com/

 

[purple]

Mouse milk is your friend. http://www.mousemilk.com/

Must be American made. Real Canadians use moose milk. For a penetrating oil it's hard to beat Kroil. The stuff is so effective that the benchrest crowd have been using it to get under jacket fouling in rifle bores for a long time.

 

[sgt_hebert]

Agree with the mechanical puller. This is essentially the same method used to pull M1 Carbine front sights which also use a key and cross pin to secure them. Sights can be driven off once the pin is removed, but you can booger them a bit in the process. Use penetrating oil no matter what method you use.

The mechanical puller didn't do anything. But by searching way to remove m1 carbine sight, I've found some purpose built puller. I'll tell if it worked when I'll received it.

 

[wbaad]

Mouse milk is your friend. http://www.mousemilk.com/

That's good ####

 

[kawicrash]

Here are some diagrams and pictures of the parts. Maybe it's the front sight spline that's giving you trouble. Are they sweated on like a Mauser?

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Rifles-42386/Enfield1917-40098/PartsList-36103.htm?page=1

 

[Potashminer]

that is the tool to use to "left/right" the front sight blade in its base. OP is looking to remove the base from the barrel.

 

[purple]

https://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/product.jsp?productid=80351

Maybe this will do it?

Afraid not. That is for adjusting the front sight blade laterally for windage. The front sight base/sight protector is secured on the barrel with a key and cross pin and must be removed towards the muzzle after the cross pin is removed. After soaking in penetrating oil for a while you might be able to get it moving by using a large brass drift/punch on the rear of the sight base and whacking it with a hammer with the barrel secured in a padded/protected vise. This method is described in the US Army tech manual for the M1917.

 

[sgt_hebert]

The tool I've found is this one http://www.matrixprecisionparts.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=16
Hope it will work

 

[purple]

There you go. It might still need a bit of impact to get things moving. If it doesn't break free with this tool and/or tapping it fwd, you might try moving it backwards a tad just top break the tightness or corrosion. Keep soaking it in penetrating oil though.

 

[farshot]

When I did one - there was a very very slight proud lip in the inside which was catching on the sight guard --I cant recall if it was the pin hole or the keyway. After heating, cooling, soaking and punding, it came off, but I saw the slight lip sticking proud. I filed that down in a second and it went back on easy.

 

[sgt_hebert]

I've got the tool this morning, take me about 5 second with little effort to remove it!