P-14/M1917 front sight install question

[Patrick Chadwick]

Is it just set key in slot and tap the base over it until the pin fits in?

Er, yes, sort of, but observe the following precautions if you want to avoid damaging your rifle and be able to get it out again:

1) All parts clean, deburred, lightly greased.

2) Try, at least initially, to push the base on for a clean start, rather than clobbering it.

3) Then do NOT hit it directly with a steel hammer. Use a suitable piece of brass as a drift between the hammer and the sight base, holding the drift flat along the barrel, so that the blow is a parallel to the barrel as you can get it.

4) With a brass drift, it is no big deal to drive the base back to the muzzle a touch, should you overshoot in stage 3)

5) Never hit a rifle anywhere directly with a steel hammer. Always use a brass drift as intermediary to avoid marring steel components.