1917 Enfield Front Sight

mauserman454 · 10-04-2004, 07:08 AM

Hi Guys, I am looking for some advice.... I have a 1917 Enfield that someone slightly sporterized by cutting the stock down. I want to return the rifle to it's original configuration, so I purchased a used military stock for it, and another set of barrel bands, because the originals were gone.

I have everything I need now, and I started to assemble it when I realized that you cannot get the front barrel band over the front sight ears. I drove the front sight out of it's dovetail, thinking it was like a mauser (which has a little screw under the sight), but found no such thing. Then I noticed a little pin going through the sight, so I drove it out.

Now I'm trying to slide the ears off of the barrel, but they will not budge.

I've tried heating it slightly with a propane torch to no avail. I hitting a hammer against a wooden block, so as not to damage the sight, but not matter how hard I hit it, it will not budge

I now have it soaking in some G-96, maybe it will penetrate into it, but I doubt it.

Were these pressed on????

Anyone have any other ideas on how to get it off without damaging it??????????????

Xracer · 10-04-2004, 09:09 AM

Keep checking back mauserman......maybe Country Gunsmith or one of our other members knows how to solve your problem.

Here's an exploded view of the British SMLE showing the front sight detail.....don't know if it's the same for the M1917, but take a look:

http://www.okiegunsmithshop.com/smle.jpg

Here's where you can buy an Ordnance Manual on the '17:

http://www.firingpin.com/operation3.htm#p14enfield

Here's another book on it:

http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~stratton/P-14.htm

And.......if you need any parts, GunPartsCorp has 'em:

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productsch...ENFIELD%201917

mauserman454 · 10-05-2004, 07:05 AM

Thanks... I managed to get it off. I kept hitting it with a hammer and a wooden block to no avail. Finally I used a metal punch against the sight, which did the trick. I think the wood was too springy, and did not transfer the full amount of force from the hammer to the sight....

Unfortunatly the metal puch marred the sight as well, I will either try to clean it up a little, or try and find another..

Thanks!

MM454

Xracer · 10-05-2004, 07:25 AM

As they say, "Don't force it....use a BIGGER hammer!"

10-04-2004, 07:08 AM	#1
mauserman454 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 76	1917 Enfield Front Sight Hi Guys, I am looking for some advice.... I have a 1917 Enfield that someone slightly sporterized by cutting the stock down. I want to return the rifle to it's original configuration, so I purchased a used military stock for it, and another set of barrel bands, because the originals were gone. I have everything I need now, and I started to assemble it when I realized that you cannot get the front barrel band over the front sight ears. I drove the front sight out of it's dovetail, thinking it was like a mauser (which has a little screw under the sight), but found no such thing. Then I noticed a little pin going through the sight, so I drove it out. Now I'm trying to slide the ears off of the barrel, but they will not budge. I've tried heating it slightly with a propane torch to no avail. I hitting a hammer against a wooden block, so as not to damage the sight, but not matter how hard I hit it, it will not budge I now have it soaking in some G-96, maybe it will penetrate into it, but I doubt it. Were these pressed on???? Anyone have any other ideas on how to get it off without damaging it?????????????? -->

10-04-2004, 09:09 AM	#2
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Re: 1917 Enfield Front Sight Keep checking back mauserman......maybe Country Gunsmith or one of our other members knows how to solve your problem. Here's an exploded view of the British SMLE showing the front sight detail.....don't know if it's the same for the M1917, but take a look: http://www.okiegunsmithshop.com/smle.jpg Here's where you can buy an Ordnance Manual on the '17: http://www.firingpin.com/operation3.htm#p14enfield Here's another book on it: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~stratton/P-14.htm And.......if you need any parts, GunPartsCorp has 'em: http://www.e-gunparts.com/productsch...ENFIELD%201917

10-05-2004, 07:05 AM	#3
mauserman454 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 76	Re: 1917 Enfield Front Sight Thanks... I managed to get it off. I kept hitting it with a hammer and a wooden block to no avail. Finally I used a metal punch against the sight, which did the trick. I think the wood was too springy, and did not transfer the full amount of force from the hammer to the sight.... Unfortunatly the metal puch marred the sight as well, I will either try to clean it up a little, or try and find another.. Thanks! MM454

10-05-2004, 07:25 AM	#4
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Re: 1917 Enfield Front Sight As they say, "Don't force it....use a BIGGER hammer!"