How to remove the forearm on a Winchester/Miroku 1873

[stuck_in_73]

Gents,

I'm wanting to put a coat or so of polish wax on my new Miroku 73 rifle to seal the beautiful wood. However there are some open grains on the wood that I would like to seal and protect. I'm using SC Johnsons paste wax. I am aware how to remove the butt stock but am wondering how to remove the fore grip. Do I just remove the one screw on the nose cap? Or do I have to remove the entire magazine tube? I would like to apply the wax on all surfaces of the fore grip hence I need to get it off the gun to get the underside.

Also, I might as well ask since I have no experience other than research. Is Johnson's paste wax a good thing to use on this gun? It is american black walnut grade III with oil finish. I already have the wax and I really would like to get started. Also heard this stuff works great on the metal parts of a rifle for protection. Input greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

-Jeff

[Pettifogger]

I'm not sure what you have.  There should be two screws in the fore end.  One on each side.  If you only have one I'm not sure what model you have.  Is it a rifle or carbine?  Assmining it is like all of the other Mirokus I have seen you remove the two screws and the fore end cap comes off.  Then there is a barrel hanger that the two screws screwed into and the mag tube.  The forearm wont come off until the magazine tube is removed, since the tube goes through a circular hole in the fore end, and the forearm hanger is removed.  Then you can pull the wood forward to release it from the recess in the front of the frame and it will come off.  A lot of trouble to wax the wood.  Are you using it for CAS?  If so, I have never seen anyone shooting their 73s in competition that waxed the wood.  Most modern wood is sealed with poly or something else and the wax really doesn't do any good.  You will also probably bugger the screws.  I just tried to remove mine to make sure it is the same arrangement as an original and they were VERY tight so I just left them in.  Not worth damaging them.  The only routine maintenance required is to periodically remove the magazine end plug so you can remove the spring and follower and lube and clean the inside of the mag tube and you don't have to remove the fore end to do that.