diff --git a/persistent-data/block.h b/persistent-data/block.h
index d5127c2..393c60f 100644
--- a/persistent-data/block.h
+++ b/persistent-data/block.h
@@ -64,8 +64,6 @@ namespace persistent_data {
 			read_ref(read_ref const &rhs);
 			virtual ~read_ref();
 
-			read_ref const &operator =(read_ref const &rhs);
-
 			block_address get_location() const;
 			void const *data() const;
 
@@ -82,8 +80,6 @@ namespace persistent_data {
 			write_ref(write_ref const &rhs);
 			~write_ref();
 
-			write_ref const &operator =(write_ref const &rhs);
-
 			using read_ref::data;
 			void *data();
 
diff --git a/persistent-data/block.tcc b/persistent-data/block.tcc
index e743360..792c658 100644
--- a/persistent-data/block.tcc
+++ b/persistent-data/block.tcc
@@ -47,18 +47,6 @@ namespace persistent_data {
 		b_.put();
 	}
 
-	template <uint32_t BlockSize>
-	typename block_manager<BlockSize>::read_ref const &
-	block_manager<BlockSize>::read_ref::operator =(read_ref const &rhs)
-	{
-		if (this != &rhs) {
-			b_ = rhs.b_;
-			b_.get();
-		}
-
-		return *this;
-	}
-
 	template <uint32_t BlockSize>
 	block_address
 	block_manager<BlockSize>::read_ref::get_location() const
@@ -112,18 +100,6 @@ namespace persistent_data {
 		}
 	}
 
-	template <uint32_t BlockSize>
-	typename block_manager<BlockSize>::write_ref const &
-	block_manager<BlockSize>::write_ref::operator =(write_ref const &rhs)
-	{
-		if (&rhs != this) {
-			read_ref::operator =(rhs);
-			ref_count_ = rhs.ref_count_;
-			if (ref_count_)
-				(*ref_count_)++;
-		}
-	}
-
 	template <uint32_t BlockSize>
 	void *
 	block_manager<BlockSize>::write_ref::data()