Bolt heads for SMLE No. 1 Mk. III

[scrooge]

Can someone please tell me why there is a machined slot on the threaded section of some bolt heads. I have one bolt head with no slot and one with a slot.
Thanks.

Information

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[Alan de Enfield]

The design of the bolt head and striker changed,
The 'slot' version is the older design and you will find that it cannot be screwed into a later bolt head - it feels like its a 'taper thread' and gets tighter and tighter until it jams.

[green]

Original MkI SMLE was designed so that the bolt could be disassembled without tools. The striker had a lug on the front of the collar and the groove in the bolt head allowed it to be used as a wrench to unscrew the striker. This system was soon abandoned but groove in the bh was retained to allow use of old stocks of strikers.

[Surpmil]

Original MkI SMLE was designed so that the bolt could be disassembled without tools. The striker had a lug on the front of the collar and the groove in the bolt head allowed it to be used as a wrench to unscrew the striker. This system was soon abandoned but groove in the bh was retained to allow use of old stocks of strikers.

Other than a screw driver to remove the locking screw on the cocking piece. The lug & slot of course also kept the firing pin and cocking piece from rotating when the screw was loosed or tightened.

[Bear43]

Here is a picture illustrating the differences in early and later bolt heads and strikers.

Attachment 112104

[scrooge]

Thank you to all who kindly replied to my question.