Ishapore No1 MKIII* hard closing bolt

[Peter Laidler]

Take the bolthead off completely and THEN try to close the bolt. If it does close, then the bolt head or it's geometry is the problem. I don't want to sound facetious or a smart arse, but it's problem solving by deduction. And that's usually the trait of garage mechanics. They'll start by changing parts until it's fixed. But they YOU have to pay for all of the parts, even though some or most of the parts they've replaced weren't faulty in the first place! Oh well.............

When we were apprentices, we all used to moan and groan about why we had to learn, in almost intimate detail, the smallest why's and wherefores of every little mechanical sub-action of the various parts of the weapon that were acting simultaneously, spring action and spring load. But the instructors would throw in low ballers, as if asking an 'experienced' Armourer a technical question over the phone, from 200 miles away (they were still in the classroom of course, with the .300" M1919 sat on their lap while you tried to bull-shi......er...., waffle your way through their problem.

The problem - as any doctor will tell you (and how Roger Payne will be nodding in agreement here......) is describing the problem!

[Brian Dick]

It sounds as if the body is worn out. Not uncommon with Indian or other well used Lees.

[Roger Payne]

You bet Peter. In fact the ability to describe the problem concisely can make the difference between a patient I 'enjoy' seeing & a heartsink. (You know - 'heartsinks' - every time they come into my surgery my heart sinks!). And of course it applies to trouble-shooting enfields too.....

ATB

[Lucite]

I think its safe to say the action is worn out, looking at other no1 mk3 actions there is definite wear on the left side of the receiver. So the only conclusions i can come to are either sell it and hopefully make back some of the money I spent on the silly thing or use it as a parts rifle to bring back a sporter when ever I get money to buy a sporter that is.

[Thunderbox]

I think its safe to say the action is worn out, looking at other no1 mk3 actions there is definite wear on the left side of the receiver. So the only conclusions i can come to are either sell it and hopefully make back some of the money I spent on the silly thing or use it as a parts rifle to bring back a sporter when ever I get money to buy a sporter that is.

I think you may be over-diagnosing your rifle. Nearly every rifle I've encountered with similar problems has proved to be easily fixed one way or another - as Peter says, its simply a matter of deducing the problem by eliminating the possibilities in a methodical manner. I expect your rifle has a minor problem with the extractor or extractor slot.

The photos you have posted show a rifle that appears (within the limitations of a photo) to be an all-matching Ishapore in a decent original condition. Based on its appearance I'd be surprised if it was worn out, and don't think you'd be able to tell that just by looking at it. There is wide variation in No1 receivers anyway, so looks can be very deceptive. What do you mean by "definite wear on the left side of the receiver"? Enfields drag each extracted cartridge case along the left receiver wall - that is how they eject.

[Lucite]

I took this short video of what is happening, hopefully this help.

DSC_1362.mp4 video by Lucite01 - Photobucket

[Peter Laidler]

Now take the extractor out and try the same again and let's see it. It LOOKS as though the front face of the bolt head is JUST touching the rear face of the receiver ring preventing the bolt head from going fully forwards and therefore not allowing the bolt to rotate in order to lock-up.

Not an approved method of repair but put a small chamfer on the fouling edge of the bolt head and see if that doesn't allow the bolt head to cam down slightly against the torque of the extractor spring (that's pulling the bolt head outwards to the right slightly) and seat up against the cartridge case and then rotate downwards to positively lock-up

It is a worn body without any doubt but as the Indian Army Liaison Officer here constantly tells me..................'Captain Peter, they are ALL worn....., that's why we sell them off!' Well, can't say fairer than that can they?

[Brit plumber]

This is the same problem as my 1916 Enfield, the bolt closes with out a round but gets stuck with one, my problem was that when I was chambering a round, the extractor spring was pusing the bolt head away from the cartridge and hitting the receiver ring . I did as Peter said and smoothed off the contact area, perhaps a new bolt head may help with yours.

[Lucite]

This is with no extractor, about how much should be taken off the contacting edge?
DSC_1365.mp4 video by Lucite01 - Photobucket

[muffett.2008]

Did you notice a difference? if so, eyeball the top and sides of the extractor for wear marks, maybe a slight cleanup there may be all it needs, before hooking in to the receiver.