Taking the wood off of a '73

[Jax Orebetter]

I want to strip off that red stuff on my rifle. But first, I need to get the forend off. I was told I need to drift out the pin that is in the band around the magazine tube. Went out and bought some brass punches. Got out the rubber mallet and tapped on the pin. Didn't move. Tapped a little harder. Didn't move. Tapped it still harder and not only didn't it move, the punch bent!     
Am I missing something, or is this like the amazing no turn screws that Uberti uses?  Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Sounds like the same problem I have with my '66.  Perhaps a steel pin is what is needed.

[Jax Orebetter]

I've got a steel punch, but was trying to avoid it for fear of scratching up the barrel if I oopsed. 

[bad brad]

hey, did that work? I've got an original 73 that i need to refinish the wood. Any and all help is needed. Thanks

[Dusty Chaps]

I see we never did get an answer posted.
Isn't here any little bit of wisdom out there?

I need to get the foreend off my 66 short rifle for refinishing too.

Dusty

[Hemlock Mike]

Dusty --

I have never seen a pin through a barrel band on any rifles I've handeled.  Beware that getting it back together is usually a cussin' experience.  Don't know how they put 'em together at the livery stable...

Mike

[Major E A Sterner]

Jax, what side of the rifle are you trying to drift the pin to? Most pins are a one way in & out deal, You should be drifting from left to right,(Drive it toward the loading gate side) with the rifle on a solid support,(A 2nd pair of hands will make the job a lot easier) if you try to hold the rifle you will not transfer enough force to move the pin, once the pin is started it should come out easily. Hope this helps

[El Paso Pete]

I'd stop til ya hear from a pard that's got one off before, he might have learned the hard way.  Maj. Sterner may be right and the pin may be tapered.  Left to right is the normal direction for taper pins and sight dovetails on US guns.  My Pedersoli Sharps is just the opposite, sights drive out from Right to Left.  I'd go over to the Frontier Spot or the Brimstone Pistoleros and asked there, Brimstone may be the best, Rowdy Yates will most likely give ya the answer if ya go there.

[Burt Mossman]

How do, Jax.
Just drive it out with a steel punch as was suggested before. The pin is not tapered. GENERAL rule-of-thumb is to drive them out from left to right. There's a very shallow corresponding groove in the mag. tube. It's best to have a short pin punch and a bench block for control. Take care.

[Boone May]

I've never removed a barrel on an Eye-talian 1873 but I have removed them from several original Winchester Model 1873's.  The pin that goes through the magazine tube ring is not taperered.  Uberti must have the same gorilla who tightens screws put in the magazine tube retaining pin. 

Burt offers some sage advice...

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I didn't have ANY problem getting the pin out.  However, the wood won't come off for love nor money.  I tried pusing, tugging, and even a rubber mallet.

Looks like I'm stuck with red wood-stain for a while, or at least 'til the humidity goes down.

[KSR]

 Remove the pin in the front magazine support ring, remove the two screws in the forend retaining cap.
Slide the mag tube forward to remove it. The forearm retainer will then slide forard and off, then
remove the forend.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

You sound like you know of what you speak, KSR.

I'll give that a try.

[KSR]

 Done it many a time. If you have any touble shoot me an email and I will give you a call and try to talk you through it if you want.

[Jax Orebetter]

Howdy Pards. I must have lost this topic in the shuffle. I got it off and refinished the stock and forend. There was a touch of rust on the pin that, i think, was causing some of the problems. I'll take some pics and post the finished product.