Old school hunting rifle dudes: does this sling swivel unscrew?

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IMG_6307.JPG IMG_6308.JPG IMG_6309.JPG This is my dad's old .270 built on a 1903 Springfield action. Shot it in snow yesterday so I'd like to get it out of the stock and wipe it down but the front swivel appears to be attached to a band around the barrel and through the stock. I don't want to break anything so please let me know if this swivel type unscrews or what. The trigger guard/magazine screws come out fine and that assembly comes out but the barrel is still fixed to the stock up front. Ideas welcome.
 
I don't see any other way of attaching it except screwed in. And it's already out of alignment... Find a close fitting steel rod (like a Philips screwdriver), put it in the swivel hole and gently try to unscrew it. That way, even if the threads are locked from rust or grime, you would only mar the inside of the hole and it will be covered by the sling swivel.
 
Gently does nothing. I'm going to have to apply enough pressure to bend or break something if I'm doing the wrong thing.
 
I would leave it alone and not bust something. Wipe it down with some good oil and it will wick down with time to where it needs to go.

My wood stocked 700 BDL has hung in the rain at my stand for hours at a time. In nearly 30 years, I have only had it out of the stock once. I half expected rust. Nope, not speck.
 
If the forearm stock won't come off with the swivel attached it should definitely unscrew. Usually the swivel is anchored to the stock but from the appearance of your's it could be providing tension for the barrel band.
 
Yeah looks like you have a barrel band that attaches to that swivel.

You maybe able to check by running a fealer under the barrel and try get it past the screw.

Has the rifle been bedded?
 
It definitely look like it screws into the barrel band. I'll bet someone used LockTite on it. Get a soldering iron and slowly heat the stud and use a 6" or so metal rod through the hole for leverage. Not too long so you break someting. The heat should make whatever s holding it soften and release. Just go slow and watch you don't char the stock or finish. 2nd thought looking at the swivel, it goes through a metal escutcheon bedded in the stock. Could be frozen in there. Secure the gun so the swivel is level and vertical and put ONE drop of Kroil where it goes through. See if it sinks in. Let it work and try it the next day. Maybe a second drop next day. You just don't want the Kroil all over the wood. Good luck!
OH and give us a couple full lenth pics of the gun darn teaser!
 
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IMG_6313.JPG IMG_6314.JPG IMG_6315.JPG IMG_6316.JPG IMG_6317.JPG What I can't figure out is it looks like the base/ring around the sling mount is serrated and pressed into or possibly glued into the stock. So in order to connect to the barrel band the central bit, the part the swivel base is actually connected to, would have to be a separate piece that treads into the ring, OR the base and ring are one piece and there is some other way of connecting the barrel band to it. I can't figure it out and I'm reluctant to start twisting anything unless I'm sure it's not going to strip out the ring/base from the wood. I'm inclined to follow the above advice to wipe it down and not mess with it. But I'm still curious. It wouldn't have been intended to be permanent, or at least I don't imagine so. But I suppose that's possible.

Pics as requested.
 
Beautiful rifle!

Im guessing the part the sling swivel goes thru is basically like a pillar that the barrel band sits on/in when tensioned.
 
The serrated escutcheon is probably just to give the rather wide mount a surface to tighten against rather than just biting into the wood for a cleaner look- and to avoid losing tension on the barrel band. The mount must be screwed into the barrel band rather than the escutcheon, as pressing or gluing would be insufficient alone to prevent the strap from separating (catastrophically, lol) from the stock.
The only other thing I can imagine is that the barrel band could have some sort of slide/bayonet type attachment inside the stock, but its doubtful. Most likely the mount is loc-tited or rusted in place and is meant to unscrew.
Nice rifle, good luck!
 
Is there any makers name on the barrel or the stock? If so, maybe a internet search would yield some information.
 
That' a lovely looking rifle, so let's be gentle. First, put the barrel in a padded vise, with the butt of the rifle supported. Apply a drop of Kroil in the joint between the escutcheon and the swivel stud both in front and behind the stud. Let it soak in for at least a couple of hours. Find a close fitting pin punch or other steel rod to turn the swivel. If you are right handed, apply counter clockwise pressure to the swivel with your left while tapping on the swivel with a small plastic hammer with your right. If it doesn't move, repeat, wipe up any excess Kroil and make sure vise is tight. If that doesn't do it, take it to the smith. Good luck.
 
Old Shooter said:
Is there any makers name on the barrel or the stock? If so, maybe a internet search would yield some information.
Click to expand...
The only name is J.R. Fry and internet searches have been fruitless. I imagine that was the former owner. My dad received this rifle in the 60s or possibly 70s from a patient who couldn't pay for his surgery. Bolt is silky smooth. I broke the original scope when I took it apart when I was 12 and touched the crosshairs. Thought dad would go ballistic but he just made me run a milk jug out to 200 yards and when he hit it with his first shot offhand he just shrugged and said "works fine." :D

I replaced the scope a few years ago when I had visions of taking revenge on the myriad mule deer that infest our town, but I'm the least motivated and least trained deer hunter in the world and I never make it out. Even the couple of years I drew tags. My dad took my older brothers deer hunting and they tell legends of his amazing marksmanship and hunting prowess but by the time I came along he was a sit by the fire and listen to the ballgame on the radio type of hunter. I miss him.
 
Beautiful rifle. I'm pretty sure the escutcheon is inletted into the stock and not meant to come out. out. The hole would not be threaded.The swivel stud passes through it and screws into the barrel band. I've seen it on other rifles including old Mossberg .22s. Problem is you don't know where its stuck. Could be the threads on the BB or where it passes through the esch. Or both. If you have a safe space to store it horizontal I'd let some Kroil work on it for a month. It has got some things unstuck I never thought would come out on old milsurps. That stuff really gets in there. Just keep the area at the base on the stud moist so it'll wick in then try it in the new year.It would be nice to be able to take it out of the stock and re oil the metal under there. Even if you never have it out in rain or snow, cold can cause condensation causing rusting under the wood line. Good luck.
 
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So, how did it go? Hope you took some action; it would be a shame to let your Dad's beautiful old rifle rust under the stock. BTW, I watched my local gunsmith use the method in post # 16 free a similar swivel stud. Good luck.
 
What you have is a barrel band that is similar to the one used on the Enfield No1 MkIII. The band has a threaded hole on the bottom side and the swivel stud screws into it. there is a base that is inleted into the stock so that the swivel stud does not crush into the stock. Use a punch that fits into the stud to unscrew it.
 
It should be tight. The screw will have machine threads and fitted so that when it bottoms out, the swivel stud is lined up. Installing these on guns took time and cost extra in the day, but they gave the rifle some class..
 
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