Pattern 14 questions allowed here?

Not really a SMLE, but I'll ask anyway--Just began disassembling my Eddystone P14 for a thorough cleaning/stock refinishing (has a replacement stock that is milsurp but finished incorrectly). I also plan to parkerize some of the hardware (stockbands, buttplate, etc.) although I plan to leave the receiver/barrel as is because they are in pretty good condition.

Anyway, my question is, "How do I remove the front sight band?" I have driven out the driftpin and lightly tapped the band with a wood block, but it doesn't budge. Am I not hitting it hard enough or is there something I am missing? It looks like it has a key inserted into it parallel to the barrel and maybe this has to be driven out. Thought I would ask the experts before I damaged something

Many thanks,
daveboy

I feel your pain. I do not know how they put these guys on but the one I had to remove I had to cut off it was on that tight. In an ideal world it should come right off when the cross pin is removed but mine did not. The key sits in a groove so trying to remove it will not work. I think the big problem is tapping the front sight puts unequal pressure on the sight and causes a jam. If you can try tapping the lower edge of the sight with a brass punch in addition to tapping the upper part.

Good luck!!

You have to drive the key out before you can get it off

The key is in a slot in the barrel, so you can't drive it out first - the sight base has to slide off over the key.

In theory the sight base should drift off like an SMLE item; in practice they normally have to be cut off - the band and the key are so tight that they tend to be immovable.

I've used a sleeve and hydraulic press to try and shift them - without luck.

Yay, I'm not the only P14 guy who's not sure where to post about that rifle :)

One two occasions out of four, I had to bring the rifle to a gunsmith to get that front sight off. It has to be one of the most tight ones out there!

One one of those two occasions, the front sight ended up being cut on its underside, length ways, and removed that way...

All that to put the front "band" or "cap" for the forend and handguard. Sigh... the joys of refurbs :D

Lou