Quote Originally Posted by ssgross View Post
The metal on the rear sight base is very soft, and the peens are easily overcome with a stout whack of the right weight hammer - but you need to support the ears with a block between them. A 3d printed cube has done the trick for me many times. No additional holes. I have dealt with some stubborn ones, but none that I needed to drill out the peening. Unless you plan to bayonet fight, the set screw and/or perhaps a dab of green loctite on the dovetail edges is enough to hold the sight.
Goes to show that you learn something new every day. Having never done this before and wanting to preserve everything removed I applied excess caution.
I was having a fit trying to get it to move and one ear actually started to bend in a little. That's when I decided to defeat the peening. I didn't drill through as you can see so the serrations were unaffected. Just made it thin and weak at the peens and it let go right away.
No, if I were to be engaged in a bayonet fight I would prefer it to happen with my M1Aicon. Besides have you seen the prices of M1905 bayonets lately? Mine have become partial retirement accounts !!!