WTK: Rear Site Installation

[md66948]

I am trying to install a rear site on my K98. How many hands will I need? Is there a tool that makes this easy?

 

[GEM]

I am trying to install a rear site on my K98. How many hands will I need? Is there a tool that makes this easy?

I assume that you want to slip the rear sight leaf into the mount..... Not that hard to do but some strength is required. Best that the rifle is clamped in a rifle vise or the barreled receiver is clamped in a vise with wood or copper jaw covers so as to not damage the rifle. I use a tool made of 3/8" wood dowel glued into something like a file handle or larger diameter dowel. Use the tool to depress the front of the sight leaf with one hand and push the leaf toward the muzzle with the other hand to slip the lugs into place. Difficulty depends on the strength of the sight leaf spring. Some are quite stiff.

 

[md66948]

I assume that you want to slip the rear sight leaf into the mount..... Not that hard to do but some strength is required. Best that the rifle is clamped in a rifle vise or the barreled receiver is clamped in a vise with wood or copper jaw covers so as to not damage the rifle. I use a tool made of 3/8" wood dowel glued into something like a file handle or larger diameter dowel. Use the tool to depress the front of the sight leaf with one hand and push the leaf toward the muzzle with the other hand to slip the lugs into place. Difficulty depends on the strength of the sight leaf spring. Some are quite stiff.

Thank You,

I have it in a rifle vice clamped to my work bench. What your describing is exactly what I was thinking. I need to come up with a handle for a dowel.

Thank You and Have a Great Day!

 

[swjXE]

I assume that you want to slip the rear sight leaf into the mount..... Not that hard to do but some strength is required. Best that the rifle is clamped in a rifle vise or the barreled receiver is clamped in a vise with wood or copper jaw covers so as to not damage the rifle. I use a tool made of 3/8" wood dowel glued into something like a file handle or larger diameter dowel. Use the tool to depress the front of the sight leaf with one hand and push the leaf toward the muzzle with the other hand to slip the lugs into place. Difficulty depends on the strength of the sight leaf spring. Some are quite stiff.

Great advice, also don't forget to lube the spring, bottom of the sight leaf and the lugs. It'll make the fight go easier.

 

[GEM]

Thank You,

I have it in a rifle vice clamped to my work bench. What your describing is exactly what I was thinking. I need to come up with a handle for a dowel.

Thank You and Have a Great Day!

I used an old file handle but a piece of 3/4" dowel will work. You may have to shape the working end of the smaller piece a bit to give any needed clearance.

 

[Humbarger]

I learned my lesson back in 1971 in the barracks, put that leaf spring into my hand to the bone
Grease and all trying to install one. Corpman ask what happened and where did all that grease
come from as he was cleaning out the wound to stich it up. Naturally I wasn't about to tell him
I was playing with my mauser in the barracks! Told him I was working on car brakes drums. I
always figured he thought that sounded fishy so he sowed me up with no shot to numb the
pain.