Doomed Long Branch Sniper Reborn

[Seaspriter]

Likely there is no split washer fitted under the swivel screw and it is bottomed out on the shaft.

This is a common malady. On about 1/3 of my Enfield collection, either/or/and the split lock washer or collar were missing. It seems these got left out of someone's reassembly process on a regular basis.

Darren, check for both the lock washer and collar if there is play in that area. Also, the wood around the collar may have become worn eccentrically if the collar was missing or the trigger guard assembly was not tight.

Peter, you get the eagle eye award -- pretty good! (I have a bald eagle that perches in a Norfolk Island Pine across from the lagoon I live on. He can spot a small fish in the water a quarter of a mile away -- just amazing).

[Brian Dick]

Peter, I'd have to hold you to a higher standard. You should have known that the washer was missing and pointed it out to the rest of we nimrods!

[Peter Laidler]

When you've been stripping, assembling and range testing these No4's and 5's for a few years you get to realise just how important the collar and the fitting of it and lock washer really are

[Vincent]

The swivel loop is installed correctly with the bevel to the outside.

Are they not all beveled on both sides, like this?



https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...)-Sniper-Rifle

[Brian Dick]

Yep, I pulled a couple to examine and they are beveled on both sides. Some aren't as prominent as others. It's been a while since I examined one closely. I remember buying a hundred of them from Springfield Sporters many years ago for $3 each. All long sold now. I wish I had some back as they were all nos "Broad Arrow" marked military ones. I still have a couple of the Parker-Hale variants for the SMLE in my spares cabinet.

[Sentryduty]

My butter knife keeps camming out, is there some trick to removing these?

[Sentryduty]

And now that I know everyone's blood pressure is up, here is the proper fitting wide, thick slot bit for the job:









Measurements of the screw is 1.482" length. It was sunk into the trigger guard and bottomed out.

[snipershot1944]

I use the screwdriver head from a US M14 takedown tool to remove them. The size and thickness of the blade seems just right. You can also use a section of cleaning rod through the hole in the shaft of the takedown tool to get a better torque on the screw.

[Brian Dick]

Or buy a proper set of screwdrivers from Brownells for all your firearms related tasks.

[Sentryduty]

I have the full wheeler set and it has been an excellent toolkit.