Pulled the trigger on LP08

Big Norm · 06-08-2007, 07:14 PM

Magnum,
The 1917 arty was a transition year for the front and rear sight adjustment using a weird screw head. These screw heads were phased out during that year and the 1918 arty did not have those screws in either the front or the rear. The rear sight screw just adjusted for elevation. In all artilleries, the rear sight was designed to automatically adjust for windage as you moved the tang sight forward or backward for distance shooting.

All pre-1917 and early 1917 front sights had the screw with the weird screw head to adjust for windage. There are tools that, theoretically, will adjust those screws. Sometimes they work just find. But sometimes these tools are just too delicate and the pins on the tool will break off. That an expensive lesson to learn. The original tool had pin heads made of brass, which is a very soft metal and I am sure that they did not pass the test of time. Simpson used to have some that were made of stainless steel. But he no longer carries them. With some of those screws, the tool pins probably broke off too.

Most guys have just designed these tools for themselves using an old screw driver and a file to form the pins. If that breaks, just get another screw driver and design another. Start off with a good screw driver with hard metal. Cheap screw drivers may not hold up.

Some guys, in the past, have recommended different liquid solutions to break the screws loose such as Break Free, WD-40 and so forth. Some have suggested heating the front sight to break it loose. They may work, but never, ever use a $60 or so tool to try to break a well set in screw. That $60 tool will vanish faster than the taxes you pay.
Big Norm

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06-08-2007, 07:14 PM	#1
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Magnum, The 1917 arty was a transition year for the front and rear sight adjustment using a weird screw head. These screw heads were phased out during that year and the 1918 arty did not have those screws in either the front or the rear. The rear sight screw just adjusted for elevation. In all artilleries, the rear sight was designed to automatically adjust for windage as you moved the tang sight forward or backward for distance shooting. All pre-1917 and early 1917 front sights had the screw with the weird screw head to adjust for windage. There are tools that, theoretically, will adjust those screws. Sometimes they work just find. But sometimes these tools are just too delicate and the pins on the tool will break off. That an expensive lesson to learn. The original tool had pin heads made of brass, which is a very soft metal and I am sure that they did not pass the test of time. Simpson used to have some that were made of stainless steel. But he no longer carries them. With some of those screws, the tool pins probably broke off too. Most guys have just designed these tools for themselves using an old screw driver and a file to form the pins. If that breaks, just get another screw driver and design another. Start off with a good screw driver with hard metal. Cheap screw drivers may not hold up. Some guys, in the past, have recommended different liquid solutions to break the screws loose such as Break Free, WD-40 and so forth. Some have suggested heating the front sight to break it loose. They may work, but never, ever use a $60 or so tool to try to break a well set in screw. That $60 tool will vanish faster than the taxes you pay. Big Norm