When to repair and when to walk away.

[muffett.2008]

I was presented with a question from an in service Armourer today, in relation to a very worn SMLE.
The question was in relation to a worn bolt guide and possible repair. Was it the bolthead/bolt, worn bolt track and guide, twisted receiver or all of the above.
As we know that there are three major areas we look at when inspecting these old clunkers, a worn bolt, worn body or a distorted/damaged body.
A SMLE will jump track if any of these comes into play and each should be looked at as an individual part, remembering that the total of accumulative wear in a number of parts may be the problem, as well as a failure of only one component.
Lee Enfields are relatively easy to check, starting with one component at a time and gradually progressing to the assembled item as a whole. A lot has been written about this, from the original maintainance instructions to out of service information in Gunsmithing and Armourer handbooks from time imemorial.
In this modern age with technology far more advanced and the repair and metal testing and inspection equipment available to us, we are able to keep some of these actions in service much longer than what they were originally intended to, rewelding/rebuilding and correcting headspace, rebarreling, the list goes on.
But correcting the damage caused by the uninformed and unqualified causes more time than is usually allocated or quoted for and leads me to the question, when is it time to say it's US


Attachment 29751 Twisted Mauser 98 action, not easy to repair.

Attachment 29759 Twisted No.4 note damaged mainscrew.

Attachment 29758 Twisted trigger guard, a sign that things aren't right.

Attachment 29753Attachment 29756 Checking top and side of bolt guide to ensure they are straight.

Attachment 29754Attachment 29755 A 6" rule fits neatly and makes an improvised straight edge.

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