Enfield No.5 question

[yoopercollector]

I was purchasing the rifle over the internet, I asked the guy if he could see if the number was painter over and he said the only thing on the bolt was what was in my first post. I guess I should probably pass on this one. Thanks

Information

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[Alan de Enfield]

My understanding of "Force Fitting" is - "It doesnt quite fit, hit it with a big hammer until it goes in"

Whereas Peter (and every other armourer) would, with skill and engineering knowledge 'gently' fit the part, adjusting what ever needed adjusting, and when it fitted perfectly the new part would be given the serial number of the rifle to show it matched and had been fited 'properly'

A new bolt is 'Fitted' to the rifle - it is not 'Force Fitted'

'Force Fitting' is an americanism that has unfortunately infected the firearms business

[browningautorifle]

'Force Fitting'

I got the term from Peter's posts, I'm sure if he reads this he'll sort it out for us.

[yoopercollector]

I reposted this to the Lee Enfield forum.

[CINDERS]

Peter Laidler may explain it better but you cannot just swap bolts as there are allot of things that have to be just so with the fit up apart from head spacing to keep you safe and the weapon functional have a look for a thread about the subject matter use the search tab top Rt.

[yoopercollector]

Thanks for the info, probably better not to buy a rifle without a matching bolt than.

[CINDERS]

I took your original post as just grabbing a bolt from another Enfield and trying it to see if it will shoot safely, however if you know a competent gunsmith who has experience with this type of weapon get them to check it out stranger things have happened that the bolt does not have a Ser on it but as the very learned souls on this web remark "Never say Never" get it checked out it may be alright better safe than sorry
Any rifle I buy I have my gunsmith go over it to check it, the only time I did not follow my own rule I got stuck with a lemon and still it plagues me as to sell it I would lose to much invested monies to get it to actually shoot properly so now I have a 22/250 P H 1200 model that is basically a single feed...........

[Roger Payne]

If it's been fitted properly it's now just a replacement part - just as good as the original, but not the original. Simples.....

[yoopercollector]

I am thinking maybe he can't see the number because in was stenciled and not punched, it looks like it has the paint looking finish on it so it might be hard to see. How much would an estimate be on a bolt being checked and fitted? I doubt if there is a gunsmiith near me that knows about Enfields. He says the finish matches on the whole rifle and doesn't look like anything has been changed. Thanks again.