P-14/M1917 front sight install question

[jessehh]

I have a P-14 that I removed the front sight base off of due to a broken "ear" and was wondering if the install was easy (reverse of removal) or if there were some tricks or secrets to doing it.
Is it just set key in slot and tap the base over it until the pin fits in?
Thanks,
jesse

Information

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[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.

[jessehh]

Thank you Patrick Chadwick for that, I was just worried that there was some trick or something that I should know about. It seems fairly straight forward and I will find where I put my brass punch before starting the install.

[Chuckindenver]

1917 and P14 front sight bases are not interchangable... different ID size on them .
make sure your installing the correct front sight on the rifle,

[Surpmil]

You might first try a piece of dense hardwood before going to brass, or indeed aluminum or copper which are considerably softer than brass.

A better option would be to turn up a brass shaft slightly less than the diameter of the barrel, with a short protrusion on one end slightly less than the diameter of the bore. Put the rifle in a suitable press with rod sitting squarely in and on the end of the barrel and the sight block resting on a soft metal shim (and the necessary steel blocks below that obviously) and press the barrel down through the sight block.

[jessehh]

Front sight went on fairly easy with only light taps needed to get it lined up so the cross pin could be taped in. I cleaned and lightly touched up the parts and put a light coat of grease on them before putting them on. Thanks for the help and hints guys.
chuckindenver What is the size difference? The new sight was listed as a P-14 front sight and does fit tight and doesn't wiggle in the least.

[Chuckindenver]

P14 has a larger diameter barrel, not much but enough to make life tough, if you install a 1917 front sight in a P14 barrel,
the hight is also different, as well the lack of U.S. markings..
many parts are missed labled and or not advertised as the correct part. they look the same, but they are not.

[jessehh]

I believe I got the right sight then. They mic the same (ID of the sight base and height) and the only marking on either is the Eddystone "E". Thanks for the heads up, I will keep and eye out if I pick up another M1917 or P-14.