M1903A3 Front Sight Base removal

[antique shooter]

Hello,

Anyone out there have any experience with removing the Front sight base from an 03A3?

I can see two pins, the upper one which securers the front sight and a lower one which I think securers the key and base. I've tried to drift the pin out but it won't move. Are they directional? Can anyone tell me the correct proceedure?

Information

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[Kirk]

I've done it once & would prefer not to do it again. I soaked the pin with Liquid Wrench & then used a pin punch to drive it with some difficulty. I did not have to reinstall the sight - lucky for me!

I presume there is a compelling reason to remove the sight base and not just the blade? If not, I'd leave it alone.

[Calif-Steve]

Best bet is to leave it alone. Something is going to get beat-up badly. Large pin drifts from right side out to left. Use a block of hard wood and heavy hammer to drive base off. Be ready to buy a new base ***'y.

[antique shooter]

kirk I'm restoring two M1903A3's both were reblued before I got them.
Recently removed the front sight cover and found both to have corrosion, bare metal and damaged front sights. Now have a complete set of authentic replacement parts ready to install, but can't leave the bases in this condition.

What is Liquid wrench? I Live in Australia, is it some kind of penetrating oil like WD40?

[Chuckindenver]

used to have a nice weekly thread on home gunsmith how to,s but some guys whined, so i stopped, and this was one of the how to of the week..
so hear you go...
things you will need,
black elect, tape.
Dremil tool.
damascus cutting tool for said Dremil.
brass headed hammer.
tape the barrel ahead and behind the sight, as you will slip, and better th bugger the tape and not the barrel.
on the bottom of the sight, cut a notch, not all the way through but real close, take your time..
when you get it almost all the way through.
with a brass hammer, drive the sight hard by hitting the top of the sight, it will split the sight, and it will come right off.
then clean the area, and install the new sight base, make sure you put a bit of grease on the barrel so when you slide the sight over the barrel, it wont scratch the surface.