Early dovetailed plate, cover, locking bolt on Early Winchester Pattern 1914's

Reading through my copy of ‘Instructions for care and repair of rifles, magazine .303-INCH, Pattern 1914’ printed in 1918 in answer to a question relating to the removal of the safety catch and locking bolt on a Pattern 1914 I noted that on early Winchester made rifles the plate, cover, locking bolt is dovetailed into the receiver rather than held in place by a screw (see highlighted text on bottom of page 7 of the instructions for armourers attached below). I have found one example in this forum so far (Serial W98 owned by fellow member H.E.S.H) which shows a dovetailed plate, cover, locking bolt, rather than a screw to fix it to the receiver.

Does anyone have other examples of such a dovetailed plate, cover, locking bolt? I would be interested to know the upper serial range for when this the dovetailed part ceased being produced and switched to the more commonly seen screw fixing for the part.

Attachment 76933

Attachment 76934

That's a nice low number...

.. and it has the F-Sight too! :-)

remove the bolt,
rotate the safety back until the post sticks out as far as it can,
using a quality set of needle nose locking pliers, grab that post and pull it forward a little more, the safety can now be removed.

Kiwi, I have a P14 Winchester with the dovetail. Serial is 42XX. Salt Flat

Thanks for pointing that out, i hadnt noticed this variation, i can get some close up photos later this morning if anyone is interested?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by H.e.s.h

i can get some close up photos later this morning if anyone is interested?

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Any pictures of the dovetail would be greatly appreciated H.e.s.h.

This is the safety on my Winchester P14 (U.K. deac.) which I take to be the later fixing arrangement?

Just found rifle serial W19074 with a dovetail part.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

I take to be the later fixing arrangement?

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That's correct, it's the normal.