To remove the stock on the m48 you first have to remove the cleaning rod, and to remove the front sight hood. Then you depress the retaining spring holding on the Front barrel band, then slide the front band off. This was very hard to do since the cosomoline was acting like glue. Once the front band is off remove the spring. This will allow the rear band to move forward.
I had a lot of trouble at this point, on mine the wood had swollen with all of the grease and would not slid forward. I had to sand down the handguard some inorder for it to move forward.
Then remove the action screws and the stock will then come off. The handguard is held in place with a small screw on the front sight and a metal band at the back of the handguard. Once the screw in the sight is removed just push the handguard off the barrel. The metal band is a spring that is screwed into the handguard and just snaps over the barrel.
