optimus/quest front sight removal & blueing question

[1216bandit]

Does anyone know how the front sight is removed?  It does not appear to have a set screw.  I am thinking block of wood and lightly tap?
I would like to take it off to re-blue the barrel which I messed up.  There was some light surface rust on the barrel and I went at it lightly with an oil soaked scotch bright pad which was not the way to do it!  The barrel looks rather poopy now which brings me to the next question...I need a little guidance on what blueing product is easy to use with decent results.  If I was keeping the gun I wouldn't worry about it but I will be selling it. 

Thanx!
Dan

[FATBOI]

i did that a couple weeks ago twice on my quest trying to straighten it out, you just need a hammer and something soft to tap the sight off, i used a long screwdiver(NOT SOFT  ) that has no top on it, its just flat like wadcutter. sorry i dont know what the tool is called but ive read and seen pics of someone doing it with a block of wood. i tapped the part of the sight furthest part from the muzzle with the force of the tap along with the barrel as much as possible so i dont hammer a dent in the barrel or dent the sight, it only takes one solid hit, SOLID not hard, no glue was on and no glue was required to replace, just tap it back in. GOOD LUCK!

[dukemeister]

First posted on the CAF, some time ago. You may find this useful:
Note on a later model Optimus, the muzzle looked different, it just had a taper milled on the top surface, and it wasn't turned down in diameter and knurled as shown in the pics below. Removal was the same, though.

Many people ask about front sight removal, I made a pictorial record of my latest muzzle brake installation on my .22 Quest. Some people suggest warming the plastic prior to removal, I didn't. Here is the front sight:

First step is to make a wood block remover. I measured the OD of the barrel at just under 5/8", so I used a 5/8" drill on a scrap of 2x4 near one edge. Next cut out the end to make a U, sand/rasp to smooth out.

Next, I rested the butt on the ground, secured the barrel upright in a corner of the workbench; you can use a  similar support.
Hold the U notch firmly against the barrel and tight against the plastic sight.


Then a few gentle smacks with a hammer on the underside of the wood block... The sight came off easily.


Here it is off, have a look at the machining on the barrel at the muzzle end.

Good time to inspect the crown...Looks good.

Test  fitted the muzzle brake. Looks sweet; off to the drill press to finish the bore and put in  setscrews.

[john 622]

I like that Duke. Yeah, my blueing had worn from cocking it. Not well applied to start with, a few hundred cycles and it wears fast. I painted mine with flat black primer, a few coats of clear, and 1000 grit wet/dry paper used wet on the top side to kill glare. It worked, looked okay.
Lasted well. But lacks the class of blueing. Might be a bit of a hack, but it worked. And stopped the rust cold. I have yet to try my hand at blueing.........

[1216bandit]

Thanks for the tips on the sight removal!

[blind dog]

Ecxellent write up, Dukemeister!