Mag cut-off repair

Hi Guy's

Just in process of repairing a No1 Mk111 cut-off. It appears that the retaining screw has been stripped or drilled out by the previous owner, quite how or why I have no idea. I've just purchased a replacement screw but of course the hole is now slightly bigger than the screw and of course has no thread so the hole will probably need to be doweled and re tapped to accept this new screw to enable the cut-off to work again.

My question is... does anyone know the BA thread size for the Cut-off screw? or are Enfield thread sizes a non standard thread. Any ideas or tips how best to repair this would be much appreciated.


Regards

Mac

I would drill & tap the hole oversize and then Loctite or stake an oversize threaded stud in the hole. Then drill & tap the nearest BA screw size then all should be good.

To be honest I would drill the threaded stud the correct tapping size in a lathe that way you know its central.

Haven't got my Zeus book handy or I would tell you the nearest size.

The Enfield thread is a special size; BA taps are more readily available.

Just to make things more interesting, the swivel screw is stepped - you will need to machine/file down the BA screw to fit the top-most hole in the rifle body.

I wouldn't worry about it. Leave it out.

But, if you are keen, the thread is:

.114"dia x 49tpi (Enfield form)

If you have a Mklll SMLE, all complete, with un-butchered long-range dial and aperture, proper windage-adjustable rearsight and NO "star" stamp anywhere, it MIGHT be nice to drop on a cut-off. If you are just doing it so the rifle can be used as a “single-shot” platform fed “trainer”, and you sort out the thread issues, why not?

Just remember that the "proper" cut-off plate for your rifle is slightly different from the earlier models. The first Metfords had a thicker plate that worked with the eight-round mags. Next came a similar shape (but thinner) model that fitted the ten-round mags on later Metfords and into the Lee Enfield PROPER. Then came the later SMLE series plates that have an extra cut behind the pivot point; this is to clear the newly introduced, integral front right mag lip on the "Case No4", (not to be confused with the magazine for the No 4 rifle), as used for Mk7 ammo.

Cheers!

You could use a helli coil.

Guys thanks for replies.. The Enfield is a 1915 MK111 with nice original wood and has its volley sights still in situ. It was going to be used as a spares rifle hence the cut off screw being stripped out and parts being unscrewed. Fortunately I managed to save it before it was sold as spares. I think what I will do is Dowel the hole just below internal step so the cut-off screw still fits flush then re tap to the closest thread.

Many thanks again guys..

Mac

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01563-1.jpg

The screw in question. Don't have a shot of the action body in that locale, though, IIRC.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jmoore

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01563-1.jpg

The screw in question. Don't have a shot of the action body in that locale, though, IIRC.

---

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e9394f0d-1.jpg

Mac, If it was me I,d try the nearest BA tap and make a screw to fit even if its a partial thread, at the end of the day its a "hinge pin"

Another option is to make a screw (but no thread) make it a little bit longer and using a centre drill, drill the end so you have a countersunk hole, assemble the mag cut off and seat screw all the way home, you need a few thou extra in length, (file to suit) assemble again then spread or peen the end of the screw like a rivet, you can use a re-ground centre punch or similar it wont need much very little in fact, as long as it takes up the slack in the screw, plus if can be removed in the future without too much effort (if needed).

On the other hand........... Once the pin is in place, regardless of whether it's screwed in or not, and the fore-end is on, the pin ain't goin' nowhere. Thereafter it's just like Big Duke says. It's a hinge pin, plain and simple!