Some Enfield parts you don't see every day...

[Claven2]

I think it's safe to say these are rare today. Both were different patterns of the WW2 era expedient safety. The helical coil threaded section was left unmachined and therefore the bolt lock was not installed. These safeties only had the cocking piece catch.

The one on the left is the cruder of the two, made of a rough stamped or forged part with the shaft being pressed in. The one on the right is a machined one-piece safety much like the standard pattern apart from the helical coil threads not being machined. Both are British manufacture.




The reason they are so rare nowdays is that they were only used periodically during WW2 productions when shortages of rifles were an issue and shortcuts became necessary. Most WW2 rifles left the factory with standard safeties. Later on, probably beginning in 1945, most of these were ordered replaced to address safety concerns (no pun intended) and essentially all the REME armourers were directed to seek out rifles with non-standard safeties and to replace those parts with standard units. Naturally, all FTR rifles would also have been returned to pattern.

One of these I got on a non-refurb 1942 BSA some years ago (I replaced it with a proper safety as it was a shooter) and the other on a 1943 Faz a friend sold as a shooter two weeks ago (hence he swapped out the part for the new owner). I don't recall ever seeing another still installed in a rifle and I always check this bit - been collecting or shooting Enfields for about 15 years and only two of these encountered. That says something.

Anyhow, enjoy the pics

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