'03 Safety Lever - What's wrong with this picture?

Anybody see a problem with the lower safety lever in the photo below? I bought it today at a local show from an old guy with a motherlode of '03 parts (also found a correct smooth buttplate and grooved lower barrel band...all for next to nuthin'). I was so tickled to find one with no-serif lettering that I failed to notice there was no groove milled to mate with the firing pin.

Am I missing something here? Is it a safety for a different rifle? A fake? I can't find anything on ViShooter or in the book I have that shows the different safety lever designs...but I can tell you from experience that this one don't work when you try to assemble the bolt! Trust me...and they're hard enough to install in the first place! :mad:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_0415-1.jpg

It appears to be from a Krag. At least it matches the drawings I have here...

That is probably a reversed safety used on NM1903"s in the late 20's and early 30's, Too bad you did not get the firing pin rod and sleeve.

Not a reversed safety. Krag? Perhaps.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

It appears to be from a Krag. At least it matches the drawings I have here...

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Thanks Jim...that's gotta be it after looking at your drawing. I'm not a Krag guy, but it amazes me that the design/dimensions are exact enough between the Krag and '03 that this safety lever fit and rotated perfectly in the '03 bolt sleeve. Except for the slotting, it's a twin. Looks like the Krag just has a very wide slot for this safety on its firing pin.

Another $5 history lesson!

(BTW...anybody need a Krag safety lever??) :red face:

You are correct. Don't know what I was thinking.

Verified with a little visit to surplusrifle...check the photos in the bolt disassembly thread...

Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle (2006) - U.S. Magazine Rifle, Model of 1892, 1896, and 1898 (Krag) Bolt Disassembly & Reassembly

Were Krag safeties marked? Or, were some marked?

It is a Krag safety and worth something too, also used on rod bayonet 1903 restorations

The safety lock is from a WWII Sedgley M1903 cadet rifle.

J.B.

Got any pics John? I'd love to see that!

Thanks guys...but now I'm more confused than ever. If it's a Sedgely '03 Cadet, why did they change the firing pin/safety to the wide groove design you see here (and thus incompatible with other '03s)??

Mike

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Originally Posted by moleary

Thanks guys...but now I'm more confused than ever. If it's a Sedgely '03 Cadet, why did they change the firing pin/safety to the wide groove design you see here (and thus incompatible with other '03s)??

Mike

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The single-shoulder safety lock is much easier and simpler to manufacture. There was no compatibility issue because Sedgley cadet rifle parts were not intended to be interchangeable with regular M1903 parts. As a matter of note, many Sedgley cadet rifle parts were manufactured from die-cast pot metal.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

I did find a pic of a Sedgley altered Krag safety modified to fit the 03. It matches to pic you have. The cocking piece and bolt sleeve also required modification for it to fit.

i was gonna say Sedgly or Bannermans... aftermarket..not seen a Krag safety marked...

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Originally Posted by John Beard

As a matter of note, many Sedgley cadet rifle parts were manufactured from die-cast pot metal.

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Oh sure...toy guns for the toy soldiers. At least when I was at Hudson High, they had transitioned to that beast of a parade rifle...the M14...(FP not included of course)...

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Originally Posted by moleary

Oh sure...toy guns for the toy soldiers. At least when I was at Hudson High, they had transitioned to that beast of a parade rifle...the M14...(FP not included of course)...

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The Sedgley cadet rifles were entirely capable of chambering and firing a round. Many turned in after WWII were sent to Greece and served in their armed forces until returned to the U.S. in 2001.

J.B.