I'm the owner of a new Walther GSP Expert. Very happy with it so far, but I'd like to change the rear sight blade. The manual says to push the blade without using force, but I can't seem to move it at all UNLESS I use force. I'm concerned that I'll actually damage the mount, so do any of you GSP owners have any advice on how I might get the blade out of its mounting without damage?
I'm beginning to panic... I've got three rear-sight blades, one mounted on the pistol and two in the accessory pack supplied with it. I would really like to try the larger aperture rear sight, but I'm damned if I can shift the factory-fitted blade. When I try to move it with the flat edge of a screwdriver, the whole rear-sight mount moves and I'm afraid I'm going to break something. Help!
Walther GSP Expert rear sight
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Looking at the sight from the rear of the pistol, the sight blade is inserted from right to left, according to the grooves in the spares I have. It would seem that the sight is somehow "jammed" on my pistol. Should I try to push down on the lower half of the sight "leg", in order to free it? I have tried using oil to help release the sight blade from its pins, without success.David M wrote:The spring clip legs of the sight blade are fairly tight and need a good push. but make sure that you are pushing in the right direction.
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Mike Taylor
- Posts: 212
- Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:03 pm
- Location: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Removing sight blade
OK, here are some thoughts:
First off, and I don't mean to be insulting, but are you really sure there is a sight blade on the gun? You did say you are a new owner. The sight blade support (the part with the pins in it) looks very much like a sight blade - it is big, wide, and has a rectangular notch, just like a 'real' rear sight on many guns. The Walther sight blades, as you can see, are in somewhat the shape of a T - with a very wide vertical stem. The 'ears' that form the top or crossbar on the T stick out on either side of the sight support when the sight blade is on the rear sight.
I think you know all this but I mentioned it just in case...
That out of the way...
Have you soaked the recalcitrant sight blade with penetrating oil, not just any oil, but a dedicated penetrating oil? It can take a few hours (even a day) for a really rusted joint (as between the blade and the support) to loosen up.
After the oil soak, I suggest laying the pistol on its side and supporting the rear sight assembly with a wooden block. Then strike the afore-mentioned 'ear' of the sight blade a moderately sharp, blow (about the same force as you would use to strike your forehead when you realize you have done something silly). Strike in the same plane as the sight blade, along the crossbar of the T. Use a plastic hammer or interpose a piece of hardwood between the sight blade ear and a hammer (to protect the sight blade). A tack hammer would be an appropriate weight. The afore-mentioned wooden block should be positioned between the sight assembly and the table upon which the pistol is resting so that the sight assembly is prevented from moving when the hammer blow is struck.
When the sight blade is not 'frozen', I can remove it from my gun just by pressing the end of the 'ear' against the edge of a wooden table. The combo screwdriver that came with my GSP had a flange (at the end opposite the screw driver blade) that was very handy for pressing against the ear of the sight blade to remove it, but I misplaced the tool.
Hope some of the foregoing helps,
regards,
Mike T.
First off, and I don't mean to be insulting, but are you really sure there is a sight blade on the gun? You did say you are a new owner. The sight blade support (the part with the pins in it) looks very much like a sight blade - it is big, wide, and has a rectangular notch, just like a 'real' rear sight on many guns. The Walther sight blades, as you can see, are in somewhat the shape of a T - with a very wide vertical stem. The 'ears' that form the top or crossbar on the T stick out on either side of the sight support when the sight blade is on the rear sight.
I think you know all this but I mentioned it just in case...
That out of the way...
Have you soaked the recalcitrant sight blade with penetrating oil, not just any oil, but a dedicated penetrating oil? It can take a few hours (even a day) for a really rusted joint (as between the blade and the support) to loosen up.
After the oil soak, I suggest laying the pistol on its side and supporting the rear sight assembly with a wooden block. Then strike the afore-mentioned 'ear' of the sight blade a moderately sharp, blow (about the same force as you would use to strike your forehead when you realize you have done something silly). Strike in the same plane as the sight blade, along the crossbar of the T. Use a plastic hammer or interpose a piece of hardwood between the sight blade ear and a hammer (to protect the sight blade). A tack hammer would be an appropriate weight. The afore-mentioned wooden block should be positioned between the sight assembly and the table upon which the pistol is resting so that the sight assembly is prevented from moving when the hammer blow is struck.
When the sight blade is not 'frozen', I can remove it from my gun just by pressing the end of the 'ear' against the edge of a wooden table. The combo screwdriver that came with my GSP had a flange (at the end opposite the screw driver blade) that was very handy for pressing against the ear of the sight blade to remove it, but I misplaced the tool.
Hope some of the foregoing helps,
regards,
Mike T.
Thanks Mike, very helpful. The sight blade is definitely in place (I have two others, one smaller, one larger, supplied with the pistol). It's brand-new so it's not rusted in place. I have put penetrating oil on and left it to soak, still without success.
A friend of mine, who has just purchased a Pardini SP (much better sight adjustment!) had a look at the problem. We have both come to the same conclusion as yourself - support the edge of the sight with a block of wood and hit it with a hammer! Great minds think alike....
I'll let you know how I get on when I try it out tomorrow. Bedtime here in Ireland and I have a rifle competition early in the morning.
A friend of mine, who has just purchased a Pardini SP (much better sight adjustment!) had a look at the problem. We have both come to the same conclusion as yourself - support the edge of the sight with a block of wood and hit it with a hammer! Great minds think alike....
I'll let you know how I get on when I try it out tomorrow. Bedtime here in Ireland and I have a rifle competition early in the morning.
Success!
Using the supporting block of wood, a tack hammer, a piece of plastic to cushion the impact and a silent prayer finally did the trick - off it popped!
I put on the largest of the three sight blades (3.8mm) and will try it out on the range tomorrow. The sight picture looks a lot more comfortable to me when dry-firing it, but our indoor range light conditions are quite different to those at home.
Interestingly enough I had to use the "hammer method" to insert the new sight blade. It certainly wouldn't just push in. Maybe over time it will loosen up somewhat.
Thanks again Mike
I put on the largest of the three sight blades (3.8mm) and will try it out on the range tomorrow. The sight picture looks a lot more comfortable to me when dry-firing it, but our indoor range light conditions are quite different to those at home.
Interestingly enough I had to use the "hammer method" to insert the new sight blade. It certainly wouldn't just push in. Maybe over time it will loosen up somewhat.
Thanks again Mike
rear sight
I know these posts are old but does anyone know how to remove the rear sight on a GSP so i c an put the mount i bought on?
No instruction with the mount.
No instruction with the mount.