No. 1 MK III Problems - Help needed.

[Peter Laidler]

I don't think I'd quite agree with that Thunderbox because the boltway in the body has a set tolerance that we had gauges for plus a calibrated 'BOLT, inspectors'. If it was sloppy from new, then it wouldn't have made it past the first Armourers in-inspection. Just my thoughts but I'll agree that if a good, correctly fitted bolt doesn't allow the bolt head to jump the track, then why scrap it

[Thunderbox]

I suppose what I am saying is that - due to the geometry of the Enfield action with its short, open-top bolt way - degree of boltway wear is quite hard to assess without gauges and thus just from looking at bolt lateral and vertical movement. I.e. a fairly new rifle can still give the impression of a loose bolt fit, yet a very worn rifle with a replacement bolt can give a nice snug fit. I base my own entirely unscientific observations on looking at rifles that are apparently unworn - e.g. mint Lithgows, all-matching British rifles still on their original barrels, etc.

[tbonesmith]

I suppose what I am saying is that - due to the geometry of the Enfield action with its short, open-top bolt way - degree of boltway wear is quite hard to assess without gauges and thus just from looking at bolt lateral and vertical movement. I.e. a fairly new rifle can still give the impression of a loose bolt fit, yet a very worn rifle with a replacement bolt can give a nice snug fit. I base my own entirely unscientific observations on looking at rifles that are apparently unworn - e.g. mint Lithgows, all-matching Britishicon rifles still on their original barrels, etc.

I know what you mean, I guess I just don't want to be too complacent about what I put together. And as I said, where does one draw the line? I'll see if I've got a spare bolt body that doesn't jump, will headspace and bear up on the recoil lugs evenly, and take a spare(correctly fitting) bolthead with out excessive overturn, and if I do, I'll renumber it and build on it.

[bigduke6]

I know what you mean, I guess I just don't want to be too complacent about what I put together. And as I said, where does one draw the line?.

Where does one draw the line is a good question tbone, being men and thinking of ourselves we tend to border on the line of safety sometimes, we have all done it, reached that bit more than we should when on a ladder etc.......

One thing that was drummed into me when I was an Apprentice was safety, after a year in the training school we were let loose in the ship yard, this was an eye opener, seeing some of the things that went on made me cringe at times, but the basics I learnt never left me, but out in the yard you pick up some sayings and three of them have never left me, and I pass them on to Apprentice,s now.

1 Never put your fingers were you wouldnt put your Dick.

2 If in doubt pull out

3 If it was your car brakes and your wife and kids were in the car would you still drive it.