Can anyone tell how to remove the steel forend cap on a S&W mannlicher stocked rifle built by Husqvarna in the late 1960's on an HVA improved Mauser action? I have removed the wood screw that attaches the cap to the stock, but it will not slide forward as I expected it to. I don't see a way to drive it forward without damaging it.

With the cap in place, I cannot remove the barreled action from the stock.

Thanks for your assistance

Welcome to the forum vangulik. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

It should come off once the screw is removed. The screw usually goes in a metal piece inletted in the forearm under the barrel. These can be a bugger to get off sometimes. I've fought these several times and there seems to be no easy way. They are really inletted tightly to the stock. Wish I could give you better advice.

Perhaps some of our members will have some better ideas for you.

To protect the fininish of (wood, barrell, stock) you could use a hard wooden dowel wrapped in leather. Use a SMALL rubber mallet and slowly wiggy off front of rifle. If you get impatient or use to much horsepower you could (bend, crack, dent) stuff and you won't get it back on. Thats why a SMALL rubber hammer.

As I remember these are beautify and eropean arms and may be brought to the factory or a gunsmith by their european owners for mainentance and repair than the U.S. I going fix that thing in garage consumer. The manufacturers of europe may not have intended for a complete military tear down like I like sometimes to do.

Do not worry how you are going to get it off.

Worry more how you are going to get it back on and how it will look and fit.

GOOD LUCK!