I know this is an old thread, but I just reassembled my 1917 Enfield after doing an epoxy steel bedding job, and removing and reinstalling the safety mechanism was not that difficult. I pushed the spring loaded safety plunger in all the way with a screwdriver, then clamped the piece of the safety plunger that protrudes out to the front with a small pair of Vice Grip pliers. This held the safety plunger in all the way so that will a little wiggling and twisting I could insert the safety shaft.