No.1 Mk1 Tippins sight question.

[newcastle]

Hi all
I took a No.1 Mk1 I've had sitting for a few years to the range for the first time this morning. It has a Tippins windage adjustable rear sight which was really rather good (first time I've used one). I was just shooting at 50 yards and it seemed to group well using HXP and my very dim eyes.

When I got home to clean things it's clear that the Tippins sight doesn't allow the bolt to be removed to clean the rifle as is. It looks like it pivots up and to the left and there is a lever of some sort on the left of the sight - its solid and I dont want to force it - does anyone know if this is pushed forward or to the rear in order to let the sight pivot?

[muffett.2008]

The lever rotates forward to allow the sight full rotation. However, on the right side just in front of the windage knob, there is an adjustment screw which if too tight, will give you grief.

[muffett.2008]

After re=reading your post, I had another look at my sight.
You may be in the same boat as me, although my lever is free to rotate, the split spring base of the lever is not gripping the screw it sits on in order to back the screw out to release the top arm.
Under normal circumstances the lever grips the screw and turns it almost half a turn in and out. The base of the arm as it sits on the screw is split, forming a spring washer which grips the bottom flat of the screwhead to get this effect
Mine is too tight in the thread, as yours is from your original post.
You can undo the screw(I used long nosed pliers as the screw is seized and needs more leverage than a screwdriver) and see if you can free it up, if you force the lever it will just tear metal from the surface, as mine has done.

Good luck and keep us informed.

[newcastle]

Managed to loosen the screw and flip it up to remove the bolt. No stripping of screws (courtesy of a good spray of Silikroil a few hours beforehand). I was able to check out the bore (worn throat but clean generally). I might look for a new bolthead to compare but not even sure where I'd start with that search.