Need Help with a Door Latch

I'm trying to remove the outside door handles on a 36 Ford coupe and they seem to be pinned somehow to the latch mechanism. Just looking at them, it would appear the outside handle and square shaft should just "slip" out of the latch body but neither of mine do this. Even tapped gently on it with a drift pin punch but something is holding the outer handle square shaft in the latch body.

How do I remove the handle? Thanks...

 

Turn the handle down 45 degrees, then pull out.

 

...... while pushing in the latch pawl with your thumb to take the pressure off the shaft.

 

Old Ford handles with square shafts all have a cut in them which has a square 45 degrees off the main shaft. This was a theft-prevention idea which relied on the thief not knowing the "trick" to remove the handle. Actually, only honest owners ended up not knowing the trick, the thieves of course knew it the day after production.

 

Thanks guys, it doesn't get much simpler than that. Tried it and it was a piece of cake.