Ross MkIII / M10 Bolt Issue

[Stomper]

Hello fellow Ross rifle owners. I recently acquired a Ross MkIII for my First World War infantry rifle collection. The rifle is turning out to have a number of issues that must be addressed before I can shoot the rifle and getting it disassembled for inspection is proving to be difficult. I have followed the proper disassembly procedure for the bolt, removing the extractor, cocking piece, and even safety lever+detent but when I then try to remove the bolt from the bolt sleeve an issue arises. The bolt will come to its fully-extended position as when normally assembled, but will not come out any further, so I am unable to fully remove it from the sleeve. From the videos I have watched it should just continue to unscrew as it comes out of the forward end of the bolt sleeve, but instead it seems to reach a hard stop. It can rotate about 5° at that most extended position, but does not perform any forward or rearward motion when doing so. This bolt sleeve does not have the rivet installed, and the rifle was probably one used for police/drill duties in India. The previous owner claimed to have shot it and that it had no mechanical issues.

Thoughts?

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Pics might help us see what's happening, maybe we're missing something?

[Stomper]

This is as far as the bolt will extend from the sleeve. From what I have observed in videos it should just continue to unscrew but it just stops.

[steveu]

Is it pinned? Sometimes it is hard to see.

[Stomper]

I see no evidence of the rivet, and I was under the impression that it would merely inhibit incorrect re-assembly and does not prevent the bolt being stripped.

[Bluenoser]

The rivet, which is clearly visible when present, does not prevent disassembly, but it does somewhat complicate both disassembly and reassembly. I see no rivet on this bolt.
It has been a while since I last disassembled a Mk III bolt but, as I recall, the bolt head does not come out in one simple continuous rotation. I seem to remember it rotating out part way and then rotating slightly before rotating out the rest of the way. I always find it to be a bit of a fiddly process.

[Surpmil]

Keep fiddling with it and you'll get it. Probably there are burrs on the internal interrupted threads that are catching. Once you get it apart take a close look and remove those with needle files if you wish?

[Patton12]

I would agree with the suggestion to keep fiddling with it. I have noticed with mine that some are more easier than others to disassemble/reassemble the bolt sleeve.

[steveu]

I got a sporterized rifle out that is pinned. The bolt came apart easily. I did notice that on the threaded part of the bolt head that there is a small drill spot in the same location where the pin is right next to a thread.

FWIW,
Steve

[Stomper]

Thank you all for the advice, but unfortunately no developments. I have tried fiddling with it for literally hours now. Also tried cooling the bolt and sleeve assembly in the freezer, then heating the bolt sleeve with warm water to see if it can expand far enough to clear whatever is making contact on the inside. Blasted compressed air down first one end of the sleeve, then the other, to try and dislodge any loose particles or metal fragments. Soaked it overnight in break free and sprayed it out again. Bolt still stops in the same extended position, with about 5° clockwise rotation and ~15° counterclockwise rotation possible but no forward progress.