Staked on front sight for 1911

[WinchesterAA]

has anyone removed one of these before? It's come time to stick some sights on my 1911 but the front sight is still on it and ground down smooth. Doesn't seem like a hard job to get it out of there but thought I'd ask anyone who's done it before how you did it.

Thanks =)

 

[Jolly Rogers]

Is the surface that is "ground down smooth" the peened tenon inside the slide?
You should be able to make out the outline of the staked part and use a ball end Dremel to remove the stake. Think of removing a rivet. You have to remove the expanded part. Then I would use a long skinny punch to start to drive out the sight. Be careful how you support the slide. Try one of the inexpensive blue bench blocks from Brownells or Midway.
Joe

 

[WinchesterAA]

Inside the slide is smooth, and top of the slide is smooth (sight was ground down to acomodate a scope)