Another restoration project: No1 MkIII 1915

Hello everyone.
I recently purchased a bad looking No1 MkIII, dark, greasy woods and irons.
I started its restoration.
As usual I need your support of knowledge for the best restoration job possible.
I would have many answers but I post here the pictures after the first cleaning job and wait for your comments about history and lacks of this rifle.
It seems matching numbers except for the bolt.
The big issue is the striker completely frozen to the cocking piece...
I have more pics....feel free to ask.

Thanks you so much in advance for any help.
Paolo

Doesn't need restoration.... just a clean and oil.

Frozen cocking piece could Possibly mean someone had screwed a no 4 striker into it. Wrong thread makes them awful tight!

Just a good clean and it will look well as it is.
Grand rifle.

As BigDuke and Richard say, just put it back together and enjoy it! As I went through the photos I was expecting to see the usual cut off forend- pleasant surprise to see it all there and matching. Give the forend a good soak in raw linseed oil but no sanding or steaming.

Ridolpho

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ridolpho

As BigDuke and Richard say, just put it back together and enjoy it! As I went through the photos I was expecting to see the usual cut off forend- pleasant surprise to see it all there and matching. Give the forend a good soak in raw linseed oil but no sanding or steaming.

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Same and the same here. That is a desirable rifle as presented.

Best way to un-jam the stuck striker is the application of heat. Buy one of those $10 butane torches you can find online, that refill from a butane lighter fuel cannister. Laws of physics say the outer diameter (cocking piece) will expand more than the inner diameter (striker) and it will un-screw.

Clean that ol' gal up and enjoy her as is. She is a beauty! I was expecting a cut off fore-end. Do you have handguards for her? Also, RobD is dead on with the heat. It does help.

Heat in moderation of course and the striker removal tool the pins are notoriously weak and go snap, like Peter L said they just used a slotted screw driver to suit to remove the F.P

Postscript;

Sorry Peter but I must have misunderstood what you said in another post so I cut and pasted it into this one;

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Our striker tool was a just the pronged screwdriver bit

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The makings of a very nice SMLE indeed, looking forward to the completed pictures.

I don't recall sayinmg that Cinders. You can't use a slotted screwdriver as such to remove the striker. The best tool is the proper issue tool that won't break - as opposed to an indifferent material home made tool that will break - eventually!

Try winding the firing pin in further, often the end gets burred and binds when you attempt to remove it.
If you can wind it in so that it protrudes, a wipe with a file should make a difference.

Many thanks for your posts.

I am looking here for the correct removing tool since, as Mr. Laidler said, my homemade tool has broken the prongs!
I would ask about the warming procedure....I have the way to use an oxyacetylene torch not only the cheap gas burner but my fear is to damage the thermal treatment of the cocking piece.....for istance the trigger release surfaces....your opinions?
I realized now that the threads of the strikers are differents between No4 and No1.....is it right?

Peval,

Yes, the threads are different in the No 4 compared to the No 1 rifle.
Heat is OK but don't overdo it.
You won't take the heat treatment out if you keep it below 600 F.......say soldering temp.
Best way is heat it just enough that "spit sizzles" (!) when it hits it.
To test in this manner is quite easy as supplies are cheap. :-)

Good luck!

R.

Richard, I understand will try as soon as I find a proper tool.

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Originally Posted by Bear43

I was expecting a cut off fore-end. Do you have handguards for her?

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Here is a picture of the handguards
Attachment 71807

About the pattern of the rifle and according to my knowledge, I am asking myself:
looking the butt socket (see the markings picture) I can see the star lined out after the III.
Looking the rifle I see the correct fore-end, the cutoff device, the rear sight with windage, just the plate of the volley sight, no unit disc but not sure if taken away in arsenal (found vinilic glue around the wood disc)......is it a MkIII without some parts or a MkIII* somehow aborted??