Enfield No.1 Mk.3 Rear Sight Disassembly Question/HELP

[j_page2]

Hello,
This is my first post. I recently picked up an old Mk3 SMLE that is in decent condition, but looks like it was preserved in a crate of dirt so I'm taking it apart to clean/lubricate.

So far it has been fairly easygoing but for the life of me, when i got to the rear sight, I can't figure out how to remove the round elevator cap from the elevation adjustment piece that you push in to adjust elevation.

any information or help that anyone can provide with regard to taking apart the rear sight assembly would be greatly appreciated. thank you

Information

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[Alan de Enfield]

Just use brake-cleaner, or soak it in petrol (gasoline) and use a toothbrush.
There is no need to totally strip your enfield down to every last screw and bolt, you will do more damage than a little.

Have you removed the woodwork in the correct order of disassembly ?

[j_page2]

yes I've stripped it down pretty much completely, and in the correct order.
I have some experience taking apart bolt guns, which are easier than semi-autos.. and am pretty careful and meticulous about it.

I do it because I know theres a ton of gunk and grime and possibly rust that is usually underneath/inside that I want to take care of before it goes into the safe. I'm just having trouble with this one little part.

Luckily there is not really any rust on this gun, but i have never seen so much dirt before in every crack and crevice in my life..
The only parts i won't mess with are the pins that hold the small metal fittings to the forearm of the stock. I also don't remove the barrel from the receiver, and i may also leave a couple other parts of the receiver intact because its not worth dealing with the pins.

[Roger Payne]

Welcome aboard! I'm assuming that I understand you correctly, & that it is the circular 'button' that you press inwards on the range slider in order to adjust it, that is causing the problem?

If so, this part is threaded into the opposite side on the slider, with the tensioning spring between them. It will unscrew, although the years of crud & possibly rust as well may make it difficult to get to move. There was a special 'multi tool' (in modern parlance) issued to armourers, that had two small pins projecting from it at one end. These were positioned just the correct distance apart to fit into the two small holes that you will see on its surface (they will almost certainly be full of dirt/solidified grease). If you are reasonably practical you can make a simple tool that will do the same job.

Failing that, all the usual tricks for getting out stuck screws..........penetrating oil, gentle heat, etc....

Hope this helps.....

[Alan de Enfield]

I have some experience taking apart bolt guns, which are easier than semi-autos..

Thats good as the LE are fairly unique in their dissassembly, and taking the butt off can totally destroy the forend.
So many folks have ruined their rifles by not reading the instructions.

[tatou]

I have seen some sliders so jammed up with crud that no soaking freed them.
But you might want to remove the slider from the ladder before taking it apart.
That will give you more access and more play to try to clean it further more, before attempting disassembly.

There is an armorer tool other than the combination tool that was issued to individual soldiers.
I have one i purchased some time ago.
You should be able to make one with a screwdriver.
It's pretty simple, but effective.
Attachment 121215Attachment 121216

[j_page2]

Thanks for confirming that it is threaded.. Thats what I thought, but wasn't totally sure. there is definitely grime and crud in every space possible, but everything else has been fairly easygoing. I took it off the ladder, and have used oil and brake cleaner to clean it out along with a scraper tool.. so I guess i'll just have to keep trying and maybe try using a heat gun also.

[Mk VII]

People seem compelled to unscrew this item, and later it unscrews itself and falls off. I have been called on to replace this several times.

If it really is faulty (spring broken) then I replace the whole slider assembly with one taken from rusty/scrappy-grade sights - you only have to slide it off the other end of the leaf.

[Roger Payne]

That's a fair point. If the spring breaks, or you really can't get it apart, let me know by pm. I have spares of the complete assembly - you're welcome to one.