Remove a folding bayonet on Mosin Nagant

[10 Spot Terminator]

Like the post implies I have a Mosin 44 that is in very nice mechanical shape and as it only cost me $50.00 I am thinking of turning it into a sporter compact carbine. The stock, bolt, trigger and scope mount is all easy enough but not sure abot taking off the folding pig sticker . I have to admit the metal workmanship is pretty good and makes it hard to say exactly how the barrel bracket for the bayonet went together so I can take it apart. I suspect that it was slid over the end of the barrel as the leading edge of the sleeve that sets very close the the front of the forearm is perfectly flat and the other end has a very slight rolled flare as if it had been cleanly welded and ground perfectly smooth prior to bluing. The front sight was pressed on after. Dont want to tear into this blindly and not do the gun justice. My thinking is to press the front sight off and file on the front edge of the bayonet bracket to remove what i believe to be the weld and press the bracket off . Any insight here would be appreciated. Thanks for looking. 10 Spot .

 

[rcmodel]

It is not welded on.
The bayonet lug and front sight base are integral and held on by two pins.

Remove both pins and place receiver in vice with barrel pointing down, Use a brass block against the lug assembly and hammer on the brass block. The barrel needs to be held tight and secure, with little or no movement for best results.

It may also be soft soldered or silver brazed on and you will have to use a torch to melt it before the sleeve will slide off.

In all, it is going to be more work then it is worth to get it off.

I would just file or grind off the offending bayonet lug and leave the sleeve & sight alone.

See this for more.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/oddsandends3/index.asp

rc