1903 bolt finish question

[bob4wd]

Attached pic shows an L2 bolt from my my 1903 mkI restoration. All seems to be correct, but I do wonder about the obvious grinding marks around the circumferance. Is this normal? or a piece of junk?

Information

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[Chuckindenver]

not original, likely not junk, just not pretty.

[John Beard]

I've seen bolts with original grinding marks before. But yours is much worse than any I've seen. One can only speculate whether it's original or not. I'm inclined to believe that it may be original. Those DHT bolts like yours are hard as a brick! A file won't cut it after it has been hardened.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[bob4wd]

I've seen bolts with original grinding marks before. But yours is much worse than any I've seen. One can only speculate whether it's original or not. I'm inclined to believe that it may be original. Those DHT bolts like yours are hard as a brick! A file won't cut it after it has been hardened.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

I think that's what I wanted to hear. It sure looks original in all other respects, I just was (and am) having a hard time believing that such a sorry-looking bolt was ever let go from the factory, especially since the war was over by that time, so no real urgency to get it into a rifle. But I also can't imagine a scenario where someone would so obviously grind a smooth bolt body.
In any event, it was the last missing piece in my mark1 restoration, so it'll do until a better one comes along.
Thanks guys.

[Calif-Steve]

Mail off that bolt to Chuckindenver. He can re-park and make it look much better. Good luck.

[stonemanwm]

As you said you are restoring a Mk I, A original Mark I bolt would probably not have had such a roughly finished bolt. I would look for a better looking bolt. I say

---------- Post added at 09:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 AM ----------

I slipped up and posted a tad early - Sorry. I would have the Head Space of your Mark I checked when you change bolts if you are considering shooting it.