Hello eveyrone. New here and I could use some help in isolating potential causes for what I think is an unusual problem in cocking my sporterized 1903, 1942 vintage.

This gun was my father-in-laws and I suspect the problem with cocking has been around since day he had this gun built for him probably back in the late '50's. It has a stock low profile bolt but mated up with a non-milspec barrel.

I've been shooting this at the range feeding one round at a time just for sighting purposes and testing some new handloads. When I tried to cock it with the gun shouldered in a shooting position, I noticed that I can't complete the rotation in order to draw the bolt back unless I pull it down into my gut so to speak so I can complete the last 10-12 degrees of rotation.

There seems to be a definite hangup or resistance. When I took the bold out of the sleeve, I noticed that three of the thread lands on the bolt were showing "bright" metal as if it were binding there. I don't have a bore scope to look at the mating threads inside the sleeve. I can't visualize how a turned part can have a high spot one the male threads so it must be something else that's causing the resistance.

It was suggested the issue is with the safety. I know it isn't the trigger sear. I installed a new Timney trigger and there's no difference in the action between it and the stock trigger. The gun is sitting at the gunsmith waiting it' turn in line. I'm going to retrieve it today so I can disassemble the bolt completely in order to inspect for any funny business with the safety but I honestly don't know what I'm suppose to be looking for.

Is there anyone out there that had the same problem? Or, does anyone have any suggestion as what I should be looking at? Once I have the gun back home, I can take photos of bolt components if that would help. The attached photo is suppose to show the approximate rotation before it starts to develop the high resistance. Once it's cocked then repeated bolt action is smooth as glass.

I really hate to have to get a complete new bolt assembly. I'll never be able to duplicate the blueing on the back portion of the bolt nor on the new safety switch. The entire sleeve and bolt handle is polished which I probably can accomplish since I have the wheels for that.

Thanks for any guidance and help.
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