Hugh,
Here is some helpful information when dealing with the Garand rifle.
This video [1] shows how to field strip the Garand rifle.
You may remove the operating rod without removing the gas chamber/front sight assembly.
- Remove trigger group,
- Remove operating spring,
- Pull operating handle to the rear where it will come out of notch on upper edge of slot,
- Pull operating rod back and out of gas chamber.
Thank you, – V.S.