Rear Sight Slide (Elevation) Catch Spring

Don't know if that's the correct terminology or not (still waiting on my Ferris book), but when I was cleaning my M1917, a flat piece, rectangular of metal fell out of the catch that holds the elevation slide in place. Not sure if this is the spring or a broken piece of the spring. Can anyone shed any light on what this spring should look like (the disassembly instructions that I have do not go into dissembling the rear sight just removing it from the rifle) and how it is installed on the rear sight?
Thanks.

I think that you have a broken “Rear Sight Slide Catch Spring”.
This spring is a “V” shaped spring with one flat side and one outwardly curved side. When mounted the flat side of the spring lies against the Slide and the curved side engages and forces the Rear Sight Slide Catch outward into engagement with the notches on the Leaf. The spring is captured between the Slide and the Rear Sight Slide Catch.
The spring is held in the Slide by a boss on the Slide and the Catch. The assembly is held together by the rear Sight Slide Catch Pin.
I do not know if the spring is available separately.
Hope this helps

Cosine26, that helps a bunch. What I have must be the flat side of the spring. Do you know of any sources of parts for the M1917? I'll post that general question on the forum also.

i checked my stock, the loose one i have is missing a spring,
i do have a few complete rear sights available

I think that this is what you are looking for:

Category: U.S. Military
Model: ENFIELD 1917 **Schematic**
Item #413110B - Rear Sight Slide Spring, NI $1.45

I found it at Numrich (Welcome to Numrich Gun Parts Corp.). They probably have a minimum mail order amount though.

Jack

OR you could just buy an entire sight from dealers showroom for eight bucks.
M1917 Enfield Rear sight assembly