Swift Training Rifle question

[P246]

Mark III the bolt will lift but will not move rearward. One can push it slightly forward but that's it. Any ideas on what might be going on. Is unstocking it the only way to get it apart to work on it at this point. Was working just fine before this issue.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

These Swifts were all pretty well hand made/assembled rifles and trouble shooting is a bit of a guessing game unlike standard rifles. It's a case of strip it down and see. But most important, photograph what you're doing and show us afterwards

[P246]

Thanks for the quick reply Peter. This trainer is not mine, just a friend who does not live close that called and asked. I told him the same thing, but was taking the 1 in a million chance someone knew the answer from running into it before. He is going to take it apart today. Unfortunately he does not do the internet because it would be a great thread to discuss

[Peter Laidler]

We had 3 or 5..... or even 5 at one time including a box of bits and a heap of tat - and they were all slightly different but interesting. There must be enough info out there for a small booklet. Anyone out there game? If people collect oil bottles and chargers and there's books and forums dedicated to them (I kid you not.....) then there ought to be something for Swifts, surely.......

And don't even get me started on '37 pattern webbing collecting/collectors............ It's a shame they weren't apprentices in 1963 and had to scrub it monthly for 3 years, blanco it weekly, make kit/locker layouts with it all packed and padded out, straps wrapped and rolled, brasswork gleaming, front and back and woe betide any poor soul that had a spot of blanco on the brass or the merest sign of brasso on the blanco'ed part. The worst part now is that they think that we are kidding them on. They say that age makes you look kindly on those old quaint practices. It doesn't, believe me!

[browningautorifle]

And don't even get me started on '37 pattern webbing collecting/collectors

I follow you there, I had enough issued to me over the years, I don't want to handle it let alone collect it.

[Peter Laidler]

Remember those 'L' shaped straps with hooks that held the small-pack and hooked under the ammo pouch things BAR. They had to be gleaming and rolled a special left/right way......... I saw a couple of re-enactors with their old 50's lorry at a show last Summer. They'd still be doing RP's (that's restricted privileges.....) with kit like that. Mind you, after 5 days RP's, your kit was usually GLEAMING otherwise your total of RP's just never stopped!

[browningautorifle]

'L' shaped straps with hooks that held the small-pack and hooked under the ammo pouch things

Yes!.. You had to make sure the box kickers issued you one each, L+R... You could tell the guys that had returned from DB for their kit gleamed. Then had to be blackened again.

[breakeyp]

In 1998, Malcolm MacPherson of Baldwinsville NY published his (I believe) 3rd edition of "The Swift and Long Branch Non-firing training rifles of Great Britain and Canada." About 150 pages in a plastic spiral bound book. I sent him alot of information and the last book and has the most information. He is gone and the few remaining books were sold by John Denner in Canada. Mac did give copies to Pattern Room and IWM. I think there were three editions but I can only find two right now. In the years since, I have seen little to change or correct in his book.