just noticed bent trigger guard

[Rumpelhardt]

The trigger guard on my Long Branch (bottom rifle) seams to be bent. Notice the gap between the magazine and the trigger guard. How prone are these things to breaking if I try to bend it back?
Thank you for any help.

Information

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[vintage hunter]

Are you sure it's bent? It would have had to receive a good lick with the mag out to get bent that way and there would almost certainly be some marks on the front of the trigger bow. Maybe it's just the way the magazine locks up? Looking at mine, 3 no.4's and a no.5, they all have different gaps/angles between the bow and magazine. If it is indeed bent I don't think you'll break it trying to straighten it out but getting it to bend back in the right place might be a problem.

[Rumpelhardt]

Well the magazine feeds fine and the trigger has a good two stage pull so I guess I'll just leave it. Thanks for the input.

[Peter Laidler]

That gap indicates to me a poorly fitted magazine. It might feed, but the magazine should be a tight fit at the magazine catch.

[Rumpelhardt]

Thank you Mr. Laidler. Your reply prompted me to investigate further at which time I discovered that the front of the magazine does not lock in as it should. When I swapped magazines with my Savage the gap while still there is significantly smaller and the magazine locked in just fine.When the magazine from the Long Branch was put in the Savage low and behold there is that gap now appearing on my Savage. I guess a new Magazine is in order.
Thanks again Mr. Laidler for your input.

[Surpmil]

If you hadn't got the answers you have, I would have guessed the spacer on the front guard screw was too long the way the sides of the guard are projecting from the wood.

Looks like you have a SMLE trigger and a standard forend cut back to MkI specs (mag cut-off clearance)?

(No criticisms, just wondering)

[Rumpelhardt]

Guilty as charged. You are absolutely correct on both counts Surpmil .
I used SMLE trigger because I much prefer a grooved trigger and finding an original No.4 grooved trigger looks like it might take a while.
The forearm is a place holder until I find a suitable walnut forearm. It it came complete with an Ishapore screw and was relitivly inexpensive. I needed quite a few parts for this rifle and limited funds and this was one of the couple things that I temporarily cheaped out on . I wanted it to look as much like the original as possible so a little work with a sharp chisel and there you have it lol. You were the first to notice or at least the first to mention it.