Hook and Plate Type Forend Disassembly


Start by making note of the orientation of the barrel bands to ensure you put them back the same way. If you forget, the screw heads and the bayonet lug are typically on the right side of the rifle (i.e. the same side as the cocking indicator). Remove the forward barrel band screw and remove any sling swivels or piling/stacking swivels if present.

Drift out the front barrel band pin with a small punch. Sometimes, the end of the pin has mushroomed from repeated impacts, and will not pass through the barrel band and/or forend wood. If this is the case, simply drift out the pin from the opposite side. With the pin removed, try sliding the barrel band forward. Separating the band ever so slightly may be necessary to do this, but take caution not to bend the band too much. Slide the band forward, over the front sight post and off the rifle.

Unscrew the lower barrel band screw. This requires a proper fitting screwdriver. If you don't have one, STOP and go buy one. Don't bugger up the screw head with an ill fitting screwdriver. The money spent on the right tool will be well worth the time it took to run to the hardware store to fetch one. Enough preaching about that...

To remove the lower barrel band, I drift out the tiny pin just forward of the band (if one is present on your weapon) and carefully slide the band forward and off of the weapon. Some folks like to leave the pin in. To get the band off, they loosen or remove the screw and spread the band open with a screwdriver. I prefer and highly recommend simply removing the pin. Primarily becuase you don't have to stress your barrel band by spreading it so much, but also because it allows you to better clean the gunk which may have accumulated around the pin. Another benefit to drifting the pin out is that the pin itself should also be cleaned and lubricated with a light coat of oil to prevent it from corroding. This is just my preference...do it whichever way you find easiest.

With both barrel bands removed, gently lift the forward portion of the forend. Slight rocking might be necessary to break the forend free of the barrel. The idea here is to pivot the the hook at the rear of the forend so it releases.

With the front of the forend raised, the hook disengages the recess in the front of the action body.

Slide the forend forward a tiny bit, and the hook will slide free of the recess in the action body.

Lift the forend free. Clean as necessary, and catalog all markings you discover. You'll likely find the serial number on the front edge of the action body. Reverse this procedure to reassemble.

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Questions, comments, something to contribute? Contact me, Jason Atkin, at the address below...

jmatkin@martinihenry.com
Last Modified: 01/16/04