my new, broken 1903a3

[ssgross]

well, unfortunately work has been getting in the way of my hobby. I lightly polished the cam surfaces on the bolt, easy enough. The shape of the cocking piece contact isn't like my other ones so I think it was altered. The original bolt hasn't sold yet - I think the tip of the cocking piece was lapped to death on that bolt when they were polished. The contact point along the cam of my new bolt is smooth now, but the the pull is still very heavy and sticky, even with grease, especially for the upper third. I swapped parts with my A3 buttery smooth and light to isolate the problem and it is indeed the cocking piece. After working it for quite some the edge of the bolt has left an imprint on the surface of the cocking piece, so I think the case harding was polished off originally. So I ordered a NOS cocking piece.

While I wait, I'm stealing an hour or so each evening to polish the bolt. I got it from chuck, who bent and milled the handle to perfection. However, the metal underneath was very matte with some evidence of fine pitting - likely he had to sandblast to make serviceable again. I told him not to finish it so I could polish and fit myself and, since I already polished the bottom metal after busting all the rust off and all the bands etc are classy blue NOS, I thought I should make the bolt match. I haven't touched the lugs yet, will do that last, then I'll finalize the trigger with the new cocking piece.