1903 Magazine cover Problem

[Flyboy73]

Got my 1903 from the CMP last week and i trying to disassemble it. I can not get the Magazine cover off. I removed the rear and front handguard screws. Pushed the Magazine release in the hole with a brass punch, but cannot get the cover. The whole Trigger assemblycomes out of the stock. Is there a trick to get the cover off? Am i doing it wrong?

Thanks for any info
Brion

 

[Clemson]

I understand that some of these rifles were pinned shut by the allies who used them and then returned them to us. With the trigger guard removed, look to see if you can see where it might have been drilled and pinned. Apparently this was a low-cost alternative to repairing the release mechanism.

Clemson

 

[Chipperman]

Mine was very dificult to get off b/c the wood had shrunk around it. I just kept pressing and it finally popped off. It was not pinned anywhere, but it was not an import either.

 

[cracked butt]

I'm not sure if the release mechanism is identical to mausers or not, but on sticky problem mauser floor plates, I use a brass drift to press in the release button and then whack the front of the drift with a mallet towards the rear of the rifle to free up the floor plate.

 

[JJohnston015]

Mine was pinned (high serial number Rock Island 03). Had to drill it out, but it works just fine now. Don't know why it was done in the first place.

 

[Flyboy73]

Looked over the magazine and sure enough there is a brass pin just below the release hole. Does this hurt the rifle or its value? Should i remove it or leave it alone?


Brion