TargetTalk

I was wondering how would I remove the bolt knob from my anshutz rifle

Thanks, Wes Thomas

You want to get it off so you can put one of those fancy anodized balls on there? I wanted to do the same thing and couldn't figure out how to get the old one off, either. So I asked one of the gunsmiths at Neal Johnson's, where I bought the gun.

They put the ball onto the bolt handle at the factory with Loctite or something similar. To get it off, you're going to have to destroy it. Take the bolt out of the gun and put the ball in a vise (or use Vice Grips), then twist the bolt to break it free. It'll chew up the old ball somewhat but you're replacing it anyway.

When you put the new one on, just screw it on and call it done. There's no need for Loctite.

URGENT

You must use heat as well as a good pair of vice grips. If you don't, you could snap the bolt handle. I used a cloth / strap wrench and witout the heat, I snapped the handle. So be forewarned. Get a compentent gunsmith to do it our use some heat on the ball...

Learned this the hard way...

Roy McClain
(678) 772-8185 cell

Whoa! Something's wrong here. What else is there to the story? How'd you develop enough torque using just your hands on the bolt to break the bolt handle off? That's a pretty good chunk of high-quality steel to just break it off with your fingers unless you're Superman. Were you using a second tool on the bolt itself?

Anyway, if you're going to use heat, you're going to have to heat the bolt handle, not the ball. The ball is hard plastic; it's not going to conduct heat to break the Loctite. So what are you suggesting? You put a torch to it?

I think I'm going to stick with my story. You put the ball in a vise and you twist the bolt with your hands. I'm a thin 55-year-old woman, not at all muscular, and even I found it didn't take much effort to get it free once I used the vise.

Nicole,

Not much more to the story except that sometimes even Anschutz puts out an inferior product. This can be verified through Steve at 10X Jacksonville FL, who witnessed the brake (no marks on the plastic ball by the way, not a single scratch) and repaired the rifle with a new bolt handle. You heat both, the handle right at the knob and just a little on the knob to brake the glue. I've see this done several times and you can find the knobs glued tight, or just hand tight... It varies. I've removed a couple without even marring the knobs...

Thanks for the Superman Compliment, but I'm sure the handle was overly brittle.

As you can see, if we try enough handles, we're likely to brake one every now and again, unless you brake the glue. I like heat (Heat gun over torch is my personal favorite) over the vice, but you might just get lucky and not need it.

my mom gave me the bolt knob first (as a way of saying your rifle is on the way) and the first thing i wanted to do was get that black one off. well we used a wrench and stuff and ended up breaking it off. my dad filed down the plastic until he got to the threads and was able to get all the plastic off. one of my friends was able to just unscrew it with his hand. i don't think his was glued on properly, but most people say to boil some water and dip the knob and part of the handle into it. that way the glue is loosened and soft then you can just handscrew it off with out breaking it.

seemehaha wrote:most people say to boil some water and dip the knob and part of the handle into it. that way the glue is loosened and soft then you can just handscrew it off with out breaking it.

This actually does sound like a smart trick.

I once watched a competent gunsmith shatter the ball whilst trying to remove it. He'd put the bolt in a vice, and was twisting the ball with a pair of mole grips... by the look on his face, and the white knuckles, it needed a lot of force, and then it shattered. Luckily the bolt owner didn't want to keep that black ball anyway, her pink bolt ball was her lucky charm...

I'm just surprised that the gunsmith at Neal Johnson's didn't say anything about the risk of breaking the bolt handle. Given the discussion, you'd be forgiven for wondering if I really did call them and really did get told to just put the ball in a vise and twist the bolt. I mean, they must be doing a lot of them there, so if this is a problem, you'd think they'd have noticed. But I swear, I really quizzed the guy.

Btw, I have a purple one. And matching purple knobs on my rear site and a purple handstop. :)

I found that a few drops of Kroil onto the threads softened the adhesive and allowed the black plastic know to be removed by hand. Most penetrating oils should work but keep them away from your wood finish.