1911 removal of optical sight unit

[GerryB]

G.Day Each,
I am wondering if anyone out there can help me with a problem i have with my 1911 .45
I purchased the Pistol as new a couple of years ago and fitted a US unit that secures to the right hand side in place of the right grip.
It then comes up and over the slide and levels off with the usual mounting ribs to fit a suitable optical sight.
Supplied with the holder was two machined pins to replace the Trigger Pin and the bottom pin that secures the rear grip.
I decided that it needed about 1000 rounds through to run it in.
Up to this time the Pistol had performed perfect,no jams or problems except for the heave trigger pull.
Now comes my problem.
I needed to remove the sight holder in order to dismantle and inspect the trigger assy.
But no matter how i tried the pins that i had installed will not budge.
I have two small mechanical presses also various drifts that i have tried but to no avail.
Has anyone had similar problems,if so how did you remove the pin safely?
I have no qualms in making suitable replacement pins but do not want to damage the frame .
GerryB

[GerryB]

Thanks Mate,
I will try cooling the assembly down and trying also heating it up in the oven.
and try to drift out the pins.
It is more than likely that the pins are hardened and it is only the end of the Pin that is about 1/16'' in dia.that is holding the unit to the frame.
Will let you know the outcome.
GerryB

[stovebolt]

Gerry,
 You might try this site, a lot of knowledgeable people there, wish I could help but nothing comes to mind just now.

http://www.prexis.com/sten/homebuilder/index.php

Jim 

 

[Jonny]

Could be certainly with quality guns the pins go in from one direction!
May be the case if someone has looked at it before or even peened the frame or pin over.

[GerryB]

G.Day Guys,
Thanks for your input.
I tried the Wepons Guild but nothing yet.
The 1911 was brand new so no one else had tampered with it.
The pins only enter from the left,the Aimpoint unit is on the right side of the grip.
Its been too hot to play in the shed at the moment so i  will have to weight until cooler weather returns.
Will let you know.
GerryB

[Jonny]

the pins go in from one direction!

Glad to oblige but can we have a bit of your sunshine. Feels colder than 0 degrees.

[GerryB]

 
G.Day Each,
Well you wont beleive it but the Mount came off with no trouble after i had explained to a mate of mine the problem i was having.
I approched my mate who has had a number of years  (as I have) with firearms,with the view to look at the problem from a different angle.
And of course he found the problem straight away.
I felt so small that a simple piece of engineering security had been missed,i must be getting old.
The security pins were not a tight push fit as first thought but were threaded.
What i thought was only a small hole in the end was in fact a small Allen Key Slot.
So the job was done and every thing reassembled and tested.
GerryB