Nagant Revolver- Removing front sight?

[Catch22]

I've got a Nagant revolver that a previous owner has messed with the front sight and has it way left. I've been trying to either adjust or remove the thing, but it won't budge a lick. I've tried a punch, penetrating oil, and heat. Still won't move.

Any ideas before I succumb to temptation and cut the thing out and just replace it? I have a replacement part found, I just don't want to go to that degree if I don't have to.

While I'm at it, what did they use as a bluing on these things? I have some marks, again from a previous owner, where they tried messing with that front sight. Want to knock down the burrs and do some finish repair to it. Any suggestions?

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[WarPig1976]

Put the barrel in a vice, use a piece of leather as a buffer to protect the sight an barrel and use a steel punch. Go from left to right. Oh, use a "real" hammer not a wimpy one that comes with punch sets. Cold blue is good for touchup work.

[Catch22]

I figured before I got to cutting I'd try it in a vice (not one at home, have to borrow the one at dad's shop). For now I've been setting it on a chunk of wood. Using a 3/16" or 1/4" steel punch and a dead-blow hammer so far. May break out a bigger hammer. I hate hitting any piece of a firearm too hard.

[WarPig1976]

dead-blow hammer

Yup, wrong tool for the job...

[Catch22]

Thanks for the advice, WarPig. A vice, a bit bigger hammer, and she came out. I had some lips that took a bit of light filing when I got it out that were causing a bit of a hangup, but it's nice and tight, but not too tight now.

Now to find some cold blue and do some touch-up work on the metal.

As a side note, anyone with an idea of what range these things were sighted in at? At about 10 yards I'm 3" or so high. At about 20 I'm 6" or so high. I do love shooting the thing, though. Fun little gun for the sole revolver in my collection.