Rock Island 1903 Rear sight Disassembly

[Leggett71]

Need some help. Searching the web and other forums I have failed to find good instructions with pictures on removal / disassembly of the barrel mounted 1903 rear sight.
Bought a RIA 1918 vintage recently but the windage screw is messed up by plier marks and when it does turn all you get is the left side of the screw comiming out of the sight mount about an eight of an inch. have the parts to repair from numerich but need some instructions on how to begin and replace the windage screw or the sight if necessary.

Leggett 71

Information

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[John Beard]

The rear sight is removed by turning the windage knob counterclockwise until the rear sight base disengages with the windage screw threads, which is about a 45-degree angle with the barrel. Once the rear sight base has disengaged from the threads, the rear sight can be rotated by hand to the 90-degree position, then lifted from the barrel.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you need more help.

J.B.

[Leggett71]

your reply helps a lot. will post & let you know how it goes.

Thanks

[Leggett71]

John,

Just to update you the sight came off with a bit of work but it is off. A prior owner had vibroetched his name under the sight and the burrs were not letting the sight move freely. After a light clean up with a needle fine needle file it works fine. Thanks again for the info. I am new to trying to restore milsurps weapons and I always can get a quick and accurate response from this forum. Amazingly all the sites I went to did not have this simple answer. You guys are great.

Thanks again. Will post some pics when I get finished.

Leggett71

[Heis]

If I may add an additional request. I just got 1903 which is missing the elevation knob. I got a replacement kno but it seems the original knob screw broke in the thread. Any advice as to removal of the eftover threaded screw?