No.1 MKIII Safety Lever.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Engaged the old brain and dived into the "digital crypt".

It appears that this "dodgy" safety is the "Safety, Expedient", a notorious "lash-up" to get rifles in the hands of troops. Allegedly supposed to be withdrawn and destroyed as "proper" ones became available. (See my previous comment about the "engineering" involved in cutting the 8-start thread on a "proper Bolt, Locking).

I was under the impression that these were produced for the No.4, hence the grooves for the No.4 style spring on the exterior, as opposed to the little holes on the reverse side that engage the hard steel pins fitted to a SMLE receiver.

Any other suggestions?

[Thunderbox]

Engaged the old brain and dived into the "digital crypt".

It appears that this "dodgy" safety is the "Safety, Expedient", a notorious "lash-up" to get rifles in the hands of troops. Allegedly supposed to be withdrawn and destroyed as "proper" ones became available. (See my previous comment about the "engineering" involved in cutting the 8-start thread on a "proper Bolt, Locking).

I was under the impression that these were produced for the No.4, hence the grooves for the No.4 style spring on the exterior, as opposed to the little holes on the reverse side that engage the hard steel pins fitted to a SMLE receiver.

Any other suggestions?

These safeties seem far too well made and finished to be any sort of expedient. In any case, where has there ever been a mention of shortages of safeties in Enfield Rifle production? If it was an expedient, why bother creating an extended lever of such unique shape?


For now I'll repeat my idea that they might be intended for some non-rifle use of a No1 receiver where an extended safety lever might be useful - e.g perhaps the smoke launchers on the turret of an AFV.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Well..............

Back in 2010, there was a discussion along similar lines:

Some Enfield parts you don't see every day...

Also discussed: Safeties for Smoke dischargers.

[Time Bandit]

I was gonna take the 'dodgy' safety of my SMLE and replace it with the proper one but since it's not a shooter I think I may as well just leave it on - part of its history and all that crap!