Looking for a bolt for a .22 SMLE 303

[Whitey_Vic]

Hi Guys, I picked up a 1941 no 1 mk*3 Lithgow .303 SMLE that has been made as a .22 It was a cadet rifle with Brighton Army Cadets but the police who were looking after it lost the bolt. So im trying to find a bolt for it. Any ideas where I could find one? would it cost much to convert a normal .303 bolt to rimfire?

Information

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[Kiwi]

A normal bolt with shortened striker, .22 firing pin, and correct .22 bolt head and extractor and you're away laughing as far as I can tell. Send me a PM will have those parts including a NOS Lithgow bolt body.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

And if the Byzantine ways of "Government paperwork" to get the parts from NZ prove too much, I think I know of a few strays in Brisbane.

[Maxwell Smart]

Exactly as Kiwi says - standard .303 bolt body, with striker cut off flush in front of the collar. Special .22 bolthead, loose .22 firing pin, .22 extractor. standard extractor screw and spring.

You might also come across the very early one piece striker/offset firing pin, and the bolt head to suit. These are fun to use, but the boltheads are a bit fragile (age or metallurgy?) There is also a knack in getting a bolt so fitted inserted in the rifle.

[CINDERS]

Now thats why I never like leaving weapons with the Police no offence they just seem to do inappropriate things with them like handling them and not wiping them down on the bluing so when you pick them up well looky here a permanent reminder of its stay there.
When I brought my P & H 22/250 brand new off the shelf the policeman decided to check the safety by cocking the weapon and proceed to bash (I mean this literally) the butt on the ground to see if the safety would fail this is on a brand new rifle with a scope attached I was pretty p*ssed off but what can you do........

Hope you get your parts A.F keep pestering the police but I can pretty much sum up the reply "All care, No responsility. "

[Whitey_Vic]

I thought of contacting them to have a look but it was 4 years ago that they handed it over to the previous owner, that's a lot of time to collect dust. Thanks Bruce ill see how I go, don't know what ideas the gun shop will come up with, but its too nice a rifle to let go. If I could figure out how to put a picture up id show you guys.

[Maxwell Smart]

Some pictures to show what I mean with the early one-piece striker, and a comparison with the .22 No 2 bolthead as normally used with the loose firing pin on the No 2 MkIV*
.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Try:

Harry's Mauser (yes, Mauser) Spares in Brisbane - (0427 876 853) or Kingaroy Firearms (07 4162 4833) in, oddly enough, Kingaroy Qld.
Last time I was at Harry's place he had a small box full of bolt-heads and bits for No2 .22 rifles

[Whitey_Vic]

Cheers boys, I knew you guys could help. Have a merry Christmas and a great new year!!

[englishman_ca]

Some pictures to show what I mean with the early one-piece striker, and a comparison with the .22 No 2 bolthead as normally used with the loose firing pin on the No 2 MkIV*
.

Very interesting. Not ever seen one of those.

Was not the one piece striker assembly introduced on the Sht 22 Mk.I, the conversion of the Mk.I Lee Metford, and quickly replaced by the two piece?