Concerned: Will disassembling damage my rifle?

[Micheal Doyne]

Personally (assuming you are keen on shooting it) I would take it to reputable gunsmith and have them check it over (I like Fulton’s at bisley) and see if it is ok to shoot, it is a modest fee and worth the peace of mind in my (extremely) humble opinion. If it is good take it to the zero range and see how it shoots. If thing are good my feeling would be don’t disturb the bedding, and leave it be. Or if you aren’t happy and you do need to tinker with it at least you know where the base state was.

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[Alan de Enfield]

If thing are good my feeling would be don’t disturb the bedding,

I can never understand this desire to take something apart when it is functioning as it should - maybe its just me ?

[Renard]

I can never understand this desire to take something apart when it is functioning as it should - maybe its just me ?

Hi Alan, in truth, I was actually thinking the same thing too. I wasn't sure if stripping the rifle is a wholly good idea because I know there are owners who advise against it for various reasons. While I did mention that replacing the woodwork was an idea I had in mind (largely because the handguard was chipped during shipping it to my home state), I wasn't sure if it was really a valid enough reason to take it apart, with another reason being cleaning and maintenance.

[Alan de Enfield]

Hi Alan, in truth, I was actually thinking the same thing too. I wasn't sure if stripping the rifle is a wholly good idea because I know there are owners who advise against it for various reasons. While I did mention that replacing the woodwork was an idea I had in mind (largely because the handguard was chipped during shipping it to my home state), I wasn't sure if it was really a valid enough reason to take it apart, with another reason being cleaning and maintenance.

I think it comes down to the British Army not allowing 'anyone' to fiddle about with their rifles - no 'field stripping' - everything should be done by someone who knows what they are doing.
You can oil it and you can use a 'pull-through' that's about it.

There is a saying :

"Put a squaddie in solitary confinement and give him 3 steel balls. Within 12 hours he will have broken one, lost one and sold the other one"