No.4 MkI can be fired form half cock

[Alan de Enfield]

After a good cleaning I was doing a function check and have noticed something strange. The half cock engages as it should, however once it is engaged the rifle can be fired with a pull of the trigger.

When you say "a good cleaning" did that involve disassembly ?

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[Towarzysz_Beagle]

When you say "a good cleaning" did that involve disassembly ?

No.

By good cleaning I meant, removed the bolt, removed the magazine, took forend off and gave it all a thorough cleaning removing all kinds of accumulated crud.

I did not disassemble the bolt past removing it from the rifle. Nor did I disassemble any part of the sear mechanism.

Edit: Just for clarity, I did not perform any function check on the half cock before this point. So this is the first time I've checked it's function. This issue could have existed before I picked up the rifle.

[Alan de Enfield]

No.

By good cleaning I meant, removed the bolt, removed the magazine, took forend off and gave it all a thorough cleaning removing all kinds of accumulated crud.

I did not disassemble the bolt past removing it from the rifle. Nor did I disassemble any part of the sear mechanism.

Edit: Just for clarity, I did not perform any function check on the half cock before this point. So this is the first time I've checked it's function. This issue could have existed before I picked up the rifle.

I would suggest that removing the forend counts as disassembly.

Everything is linked on the Enfield and moving one part can have a serious affect on the rest of the 'system'.

Removing the forend (did you do it correctly, or just, 'pull it off'), removing the trigger etc all affects the trigger 'group'.


I remember putting new (old) wood onto a No1 Mk3* Enfield and it would just not 'cock' something was wrong and interfering with the 'trigger group'.

These rifles are not plug & play and the worst thing seems to be that some folk just have to take them apart - and then say "it must have been like that before I started"

What's wrong with "if it 'aint broke don't try and fix it"

[Towarzysz_Beagle]

I would suggest that removing the forend counts as disassembly.

Everything is linked on the Enfield and moving one part can have a serious affect on the rest of the 'system'.

Removing the forend (did you do it correctly, or just, 'pull it off'), removing the trigger etc all affects the trigger 'group'.


I remember putting new (old) wood onto a No1 Mk3* Enfield and it would just not 'cock' something was wrong and interfering with the 'trigger group'.

These rifles are not plug & play and the worst thing seems to be that some folk just have to take them apart - and then say "it must have been like that before I started"

What's wrong with "if it 'aint broke don't try and fix it"

The forend was removed correctly. Bands removed, upper hand guards removed, then king screw, then trigger guard screw, and then gently rocked off at the receiver end. Put back together in reverse.

I'm not a complete spud. I have owned and disassembled Enfield Rifles for a solid 15 years now without ever causing damage or something like this to happen.

If I perform the test where you cock it, turn the safety on then slowly disengage the safety while repeatedly pulling the trigger to generate a slip and test the half cock it catches the sear in half cock as it should.

I've re-examined the half bent and there appears to be some very minor wear, perhaps this could be what is allowing it to slip out of the groove if the trigger is pulled?