11/44 ROF(F) No5 MkI with MkII rear sight

Here's my latest acquisition and my second Enfield for my WW2 collection. I was unaware of this interesting and seemingly rare WW2 era rear sight variation until I acquired the this rifle last Saturday.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../my0a8lK-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../V7FNbHd-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../F5V9Mfm-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../rUtZJN2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../lxEnqns-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../wP5LsDh-1.jpg

Why is that rifle cocked. Not a SAFE practice

Relax, it's stored with the bolt open and the three rules are always followed. It's just cocked for the pictures. The ammo in the pics never moves from the shelf either. Decocking would be more dangerous wouldn't it? Because, if a round did manage to find it's way into the rifle, the firing pin would then be resting on the primer!

Cycle the bolt several times to make sure your visual empty chamber mag look is actually empty close bolt holding trigger to the rear. Rifle now safe with less tension on the spring.
A cocked rifle is an indication that the rifle is ready to fire and no one other than the person who cocked the rifle knows if it is loaded or not. To take photos of a rifle with the bolt open shows that the rifle is safe and not ready to fire.
I store all my rifles with the bolt closed on an empty chamber. I dont take my bolts out for storage because that is one way to finish up with miss matched rifles. Which seems to be a big problem in the USA.

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Originally Posted by Bindi2

Which seems to be a big problem in the USA.

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I don't really think that's the case...

I've heard of people who aren't gun people store bolts separately (and then lose them after a few years!). I've never heard of a collector storing the bolt separately however. Obviously it's a bad idea.

I store the rifles bolt open so air can move through the bore. It helps prevent rust issues, especially if there's a risk of the rifle encountering humid air.

Checking the firearm is empty when you pick it up is firearms 101 IMO (even though MANY people can't seem to grasp the concept, same with muzzle awareness!). The rifle is cocked, safety off for the pictures because I generally just think gun look better in that condition for pictures. These pictures are admittedly not the best, but I don't have my good camera right now and the one I do have isn't focusing well for some reason. That doesn't mean I change much else for how I compose my photos however. I usually make an effort to try to get my pictures to look good, including setting up the rifle itself in a way I find pleasing.

All the theorising can be alleviated by simply following the FIRST rule of firearms/weapons that hammered into you from day one. Nothing to do with bolt open or closed but DO NOT EVER, NEVER, EVER POINT WEAPON TOWARDS ANYONE, EVEN IN JEST. If everyone followed that simple rule, the rest would be academic!

I suppose the next one, a bit secondary, would be always make sure that before handing a weapon over, YOU check and clear it AND SO DOES HE!

Re the Mk2 No5 backsights, I seem to recall that5 they were a common feature on the wartime made No5's. They certainly featured on our old ones

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I don't really think that's the case...

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There are more reported miss matched bolts there than here by a long way.
I have nearly been shot by a person whose safety practices were bad and did not improve with tuition , just brainless and Dumb. ADs are no fun at anytime when you are the RO or trainer and even less fun on a returned firearms first outing on returning from a gunsmith. I consider all firearms to be loaded until i have cleared them and consider cocked ones even more dangerous.

I think you need to take and breath and relax. You're preaching to the wrong people. Specially this one.

Leaving a rifle cocked is just plain bad practice. No ifs, buts, or maybes.

In my opinion, it shows a cavalier attitude.

It is simple matter to hold the trigger closed when closing the bolt so why not just do it?