How to Remove Blade on 3 Screw Rear Sight

[mickeyboat]

So how in the heck to I remove the blade on the rear sight of an old Ruger 3 Screw. Have a new one ready to go in but can not get the old one out. Must not be holding my tongue right or something. Removed the screw that adjusts the sight for azimuth but the sight comes part way out and stops. Help please.

 

[Flash]

There is a divot in the blade that must pass through a relieved area in the slot. The blade moves toward the screw a bit then straight up out of the slot

 

[Flash]

When you put the new one in, align the divot with the corresponding area in the slot. Then use the shank end of a 3/32 drill bit and compress the spring with the sight in place. The horn ground on the bottom of the blade will catch the spring and hold it in place. Seat the screw and you're done.

 

[rugerguy]

you have to put a very small ,say 1/16-inch pin punch under the blade ( into the hole the windage screw came out of) must take the pressure 'off' this spring to release the blade...as noted above, the newer sights and the sight body have a small "divot" that you need to align to remove the sight blade...if the blade has the divot and the body does NOT, you have to remove (file down) the divot in the sight blade to use in an "old model" sight body.....these divots were done to keep the blade from jumping out of the older style sights, happened all too often with hot loads, or worn, loose sight parts.........
reverse for the install, use the pin punch to decompress the spring while inserting the blade............