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I am thinking of buying an Enfield No.5. It has been FTR'd. There isn't a number on the back of the bolt, is this OK? It seems I heard you can't just swap bolts on Enfields. It has No.5 Mk1 ROF(F)FTR on the side of receiver. The bolt handle has a PV, a P underneath and DOW 2 on the cocking knob. Thanks for the help.
I am thinking of buying an Enfield No.5. It has been FTR'd. There isn't a number on the back of the bolt, is this OK? It seems I heard you can't just swap bolts on Enfields. It has No.5 Mk1 ROF(F)FTR on the side of receiver. The bolt handle has a PV, a P underneath and DOW 2 on the cocking knob. Thanks for the help.
I reposted this to the Lee Enfield forum.
I think the cocking piece is a South African replacement part. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
I want the rifle to shoot at milsurp shoots, my concern is a bolt with no serial number belonging to this rifle and being safe to shoot after the headspace is checked. Is it something that could have happened during the FTR. Thanks
Normally after force fitting they would be headspaced and marked with the number so it now matches the rifle.
Look real close with a magnifying glass in good light. In some cases the numbers were applied with a ''scratchy pen'' and are hard to see, especially if it's been refinished.
How do you know if the bolt is fitted to the rifle? Is it safe to shoot as long as the headspace is OK and the rest of the rifle is good?
Sorry BAR, the words "force fitting" and "forced matched". Where does this come from?
If it was replaced and fitted to the rifle in service it will be numbered to the receiver, normally. If you can't find numbers, or they don't match, it was likely replaced by a previous owner who just stuck it in. Just because the CHS is in spec doesn't mean it's safe to shoot. Both locking lugs must be making even contact with the receiver shoulders or it could fail, especially if the short lug is taking all the stress.
Best thing to do if your in the U.S. would be to send it off to Brian Dick for a check up. It will be right when he gets done with it.
Peter Laidler may explain it better but you cannot just swap bolts as there are allot of things that have to be just so with the fit up apart from head spacing to keep you safe and the weapon functional have a look for a thread about the subject matter use the search tab top Rt.
Thanks for the info, probably better not to buy a rifle without a matching bolt than.
I was purchasing the rifle over the internet, I asked the guy if he could see if the number was painter over and he said the only thing on the bolt was what was in my first post. I guess I should probably pass on this one. Thanks
From what I can gather from Peter's descriptions, it's making the bolt match the rifle. Hand selection and fitment and then number it to match. Peter will correct me shortly if I'm out of whack...or one of the others.Quote:
Originally Posted by Homer
I took your original post as just grabbing a bolt from another Enfield and trying it to see if it will shoot safely, however if you know a competent gunsmith who has experience with this type of weapon get them to check it out stranger things have happened that the bolt does not have a Ser on it but as the very learned souls on this web remark "Never say Never" get it checked out it may be alright better safe than sorry
Any rifle I buy I have my gunsmith go over it to check it, the only time I did not follow my own rule I got stuck with a lemon and still it plagues me as to sell it I would lose to much invested monies to get it to actually shoot properly so now I have a 22/250 P H 1200 model that is basically a single feed...........
My understanding of "Force Fitting" is - "It doesnt quite fit, hit it with a big hammer until it goes in"
Whereas Peter (and every other armourer) would, with skill and engineering knowledge 'gently' fit the part, adjusting what ever needed adjusting, and when it fitted perfectly the new part would be given the serial number of the rifle to show it matched and had been fited 'properly'
A new bolt is 'Fitted' to the rifle - it is not 'Force Fitted'
'Force Fitting' is an americanism that has unfortunately infected the firearms business
If it's been fitted properly it's now just a replacement part - just as good as the original, but not the original. Simples.....
I am thinking maybe he can't see the number because in was stenciled and not punched, it looks like it has the paint looking finish on it so it might be hard to see. How much would an estimate be on a bolt being checked and fitted? I doubt if there is a gunsmiith near me that knows about Enfields. He says the finish matches on the whole rifle and doesn't look like anything has been changed. Thanks again.
I got the term from Peter's posts, I'm sure if he reads this he'll sort it out for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield