No need for an apology, Dick.  We've been all over the map in this thread.  It was suggested that I disassemble and clean the cut off.  And judging by the amount of force necessary to move it, it is certainly not a bad suggestion.  It takes an enormous effort to move it.  I don't doubt that there is some crud involved in it somewhere.  I know it's not supposed to move when the wind blows, but it should be a move easier than it does now.

And for your confusion with terms, that's probably my fault.  Sometimes I use remove and disassemble interchangeably. 

I am also sure that the side-plate is part of the problem; hopefully the entire problem.  I just hope this isn't going to be one of those fix this and now that doesn't work well evolutions.

I've only owned Krags for the last year or so with the exception of one I had for a month or so when I was a teen.  I am getting into the unknown here with this Model 96 since I've not disassembled the 98s I have any further than was necessary to ensure they were safe to shoot.  They came to me working as advertised.