Hello, all. New to the forum. Thanks for the add. This is a new to me 1903A4. From what I’ve found with my limited research, this is a DCM returned rifle that had a front sight installed. Everything else on it seems correct. Serial number is 4.9 and the barrel date is 12/43. I am afraid to have someone remove the front sight. I really don’t want to take a chance on messing it up. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you!
1903A4
- Thread starter Booney110
- Start date
It looks like a pretty nice rifle. They do make a front sight puller for these. It just slips on the end of the barrel and then is like a press with a screw that tightens on the muzzle and pulls the front sight off. I think I have the tool if you are local to Northwest Ohio.
Personally, I would likely pull it, but that is just me. I would just use the tool and spray some oil on it and let it soak for a day or so before you do. There might be some light scratches when removed but any of those could be touched up with cold blue and I doubt you would see them.
The only issue would be if by some chance, that 12/43 barrel was a replacement. Original A4 barrels were parked with the front sight off. Replacement 03A3 barrels were parked with the front sight on. So if it were a replacement barrel, the area under the front sight would be in the white.
My guess is your rifle was one of the A4's that had the scope base removed and front and rear sights added by the military and then were sold by the DCM as service rifle 03A3's. I've seen a dozen like that over the years. I'm guessing someone found one of these configurations and removed the rear sight which just slides on a dovetail and then added the scope base and scope. But left the front sight.
Personally, I would likely pull it, but that is just me. I would just use the tool and spray some oil on it and let it soak for a day or so before you do. There might be some light scratches when removed but any of those could be touched up with cold blue and I doubt you would see them.
The only issue would be if by some chance, that 12/43 barrel was a replacement. Original A4 barrels were parked with the front sight off. Replacement 03A3 barrels were parked with the front sight on. So if it were a replacement barrel, the area under the front sight would be in the white.
My guess is your rifle was one of the A4's that had the scope base removed and front and rear sights added by the military and then were sold by the DCM as service rifle 03A3's. I've seen a dozen like that over the years. I'm guessing someone found one of these configurations and removed the rear sight which just slides on a dovetail and then added the scope base and scope. But left the front sight.
If you don't have the tool. Pull the barreled action. Put the front of the barrel in a padded vise, or between two soft blocks of wood in the vise, as close as you can behind the front sight to hold it secure. But also giving you enough room to drive the front sight off. Then take the lower pin out of the front sight by driving it out with a small punch. Put a block of wood behind the rear sight and use a hammer to drive it forward. Again, I would soak it in oil overnight to be safe before you do it. Even though honestly it's not really needed. Most of the time I don't soak mine and they come off very easily. I'm just trying to make as simple as I can for you.
I have done a million of these over the years and you don't need to be afraid of hurting anything. As long as that barrel is in the padded vise secured close to the front sight, those front sights are easy to drive off. The wood absorbs all the impact and will mushroom to drive it off, but it will not in anyway damage that barrel or front sight even if it splinters. Wood is soft and will not harm it. I usually use small scraps of pine 2x4's to drive them off.
Trust me, It's extremely easy.
I have done a million of these over the years and you don't need to be afraid of hurting anything. As long as that barrel is in the padded vise secured close to the front sight, those front sights are easy to drive off. The wood absorbs all the impact and will mushroom to drive it off, but it will not in anyway damage that barrel or front sight even if it splinters. Wood is soft and will not harm it. I usually use small scraps of pine 2x4's to drive them off.
Trust me, It's extremely easy.
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