[mrechtien]

I'm a klutz, but how do you do it? The front sight seems to high?!?

 

[fredh]

Yep, that's true on some of them, so the front band is not removable on those. Otherwise, you gently knock out the front band face plate (it slides in), rotate the front band to flat side (bayonet lug side) up, and slide over front sight. Good luck!

 

[davef]

some of them are too high, on others turning it upside down will work. but on some of the early ones it isnt coming off with the sight in place, the action was removed as a group with the band simply slid forward off the wood.

 

[mrechtien]

This an early Nagoya that's missing it's front band. That being the case, there must be SOME way to get it back on, right?

 

[mrechtien]

How does one remove the front sight?

 

[davef]

they are pinned on,then smoothed and blued,removing them can be very difficult. Ive saw a couple that they removed the front band by sawing it in half.I even had 1 for a while that had the matching front band with it,split along the top with a hack saw. try sliding a known same series band on to it,if it doesnt fit, then removing the sight is about the only option,and since the band were number and proof mated to the gun your putting a lot of work into a mis match rifle if you go that route.it may be simpler and possible to remove enough metal from the interior of the new band to get it over the sight ears.

 

[mrechtien]

Maybe I could file down the front site guards?

 

[03man]

Maybe I could file down the front site guards?

No, you will run into the "window". You will have to remove the front sight, or have an ugly mess; maybe both.

No easy way to do this. The early front sight is 1 5/16" tall, later 1 1/4".

 

[Riceone]

Here is one way of removing and replacing front sight on T99's - Its in the stickies - http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?22155-front-sight-question

 

[mrechtien]

Can anyone recommend a good Michigan gunsmith for this? Or do I have to send it to red jacket? I don't think I have the tools for this.

 

[JWMWITZ]

On restoration projects involving sporterized Type 99 rifles that require a new front band, I heated the front sight wings and genty bent them to the point where the front band would slide over the sight, then bent them back into place. I have done this on several rifles and it works if you are patient,

John in Charlotte, NC

 

[mrechtien]

This is a good idea. What did you use?

 

[davef]

that is a good idea... someone told or showed me (maybe both) some they had done by taking some metal off the band where it didnt show much and it had worked ok,unless you knew it was done, but bending the ears sounds much simpler. I only plan to build 1 more arisaka,aside from sporters,so Im done "restoring",and if I dont find a sniper project thats no ridiculously priced I may not even build 1 more..fantasy guns and sporters are so much easier than going the other way.