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1901 Windage? (Read 2568 times)
Braddie
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1901 Windage?
Sep 14th, 2010 at 11:30pm
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Can anyone tell me how to adjust windage on the 1901 sight.  That lil lever on the front of the rear sight does not seem to move anything.  I figure either I don't know what I am doing or it's seized a bit.  Can anyone help, it's a nice sight I hate to mess it up.
  
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Dick Hosmer
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Re: 1901 Windage?
Reply #1 - Sep 15th, 2010 at 1:22am
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First, can you move the lever? If no - you need some WD40 or equivalent.

If yes, but the sight won't twist (the lever is ONLY a friction-lock) you either need MORE WD40, or, as was done in some cases the upper sight base has been pinned so as to prevent adjustment by the troops.

This can only be ascertained by removing the sight from the barrel.

If it IS pinned, you can either "hold off" when you shoot, live with un-centered groups, or attempt to remove the pin - which route was not intended by the applicator threrof. Some damage is inevitable, but, it will all be concealed.
  
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Braddie
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Re: 1901 Windage?
Reply #2 - Sep 15th, 2010 at 1:58am
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Thanks for the info.  I used WD 40 and the windage lever will move about 90 degrees. The sight still does not move.  If I pull the site off is there any tell tale signs I should look for to know it's been pinned? Embarrassed
  
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fred
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Re: 1901 Windage?
Reply #3 - Sep 15th, 2010 at 1:44pm
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You will probably have to remove the sight.  Two screws.  Soak them in penetrating oil if they don't move.  Not familiar with the pin that Dick is referring to, but it should be easy to detect once the sight is removed.

You many simply find that the sight is stuck to the base.  Detatch the slide from the base and lightly clean the mating surfaces with fine steel wool and oil.  Once it is cleaned and lubed, turning the windage lever will remove tension from the sight and you should be able to move it from side-to-side.
  
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Dick Hosmer
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Re: 1901 Windage?
Reply #4 - Sep 15th, 2010 at 2:30pm
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After you remove the sight - carefully, as Fred said - you will see a small, bright, grinder-mark, with a pin in the center. The pin is driven blind - cannot be reached from above. You will have to drill it out, or, somehow reduce (by drilling a series of small holes) the metal around the pin to where you MIGHT be able to pull it free.

Whatever drilling you do, use a drill-press and drill vise, and proceed very slowly. You ONLY need to remove that part of the pin which is in the fixed base. As soon as you can wiggle the movable base, stop drilling!

Since I do not shoot my collector Krags, I've never worried about it.

Or, you could buy an unpinned sight from a parts supplier - 1901 sights are not uncommon; you should be able to obtain a good finish match. The parts guy might take your sight in trade.
  
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