If there is not enough of the
tang exposed to strike, then you
may have to use another object
against the tang to strike with
the mallet. After the iron has
loosened, you can then tap
gently under the finial of the
wedge to remove it.

Usually the finial isnt as fragile
as it would seem, but I still
don't advise hitting it with any
real force that might dent it.

NOTE: All of these procedures
can change drastically if the
plane is old, and has not been
tuned up yet !!!