Tearing down my new MK 1 before taking to the range.

[David TS]

I love taking these rifles apart and seeing how they work. Dont you guys?

In a word....no

We did an 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' thread only a week or two ago

[Capt Mil Coll]

OK well obviously this thread is about people who like to tear down and clean and inspect their rifles. If you dont thats fine. But I happen to find it fascinating to see how these old Battle Rifles work.

So didnt get an answer on the grease on the bottom so I took it off inspected it and regreased it. A waste of time if you ask me but I did it. Strange how most rifles dont require something like that but hey this is an English rifle after all.

Reassembling now and it looks good. Used the method that I always do for the stocks. Cleans that old oil and dirt out of the wood without refinishing it. Gives it a really deep deep luster too.

Will take it to the range tomorrow and see what it does.

[5thBatt]

I just spent $$$$s on a 1935 MkIII Lithgow, all looks good, washer still covering stockbolt, at this point people would be saying "it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Well i took it apart as you never know what idiot has been there before, guess what!

Thats right! some moron has tried to undo the stockbolt with the forend in place
Its all very well trying to tell people to leave rifles alone if they look fine in an attempt to stop this type of crap from happening, but unfortunately that boat has long sailed.

[madcratebuilder]

I just spent $$$$s on a 1935 MkIII Lithgow, all looks good, washer still covering stockbolt, at this point people would be saying "it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Well i took it apart as you never know what idiot has been there before, guess what!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ithgow11-1.jpg
Thats right! some moron has tried to undo the stockbolt with the forend in place
Its all very well trying to tell people to leave rifles alone if they look fine in an attempt to stop this type of crap from happening, but unfortunately that boat has long sailed.

That damage was caused by not knowing "how" to take the rifle apart. If you had not disassembled the rifle you would not have known this damage occurred, good reason the check. I'm with Capt Mil Coll on a complete disassembly and clean & inspect of any used or new fire arm I buy.

A third of the LE's I have bought needed a new trigger because bubba was there first. I like my equipment to function correct before I'm off to the great north woods. It's just a personal choice.

[Peter Laidler]

EXACTLY the point madcrate builder..... If it ain't broke, then don't fix it. 5th Batt has to fix it because someone broke it in the first place ...... and the PREVIOUS owner broke it because it didn't NEED fixing.............. To be honest 5th Batt, that's the mildest bit of bubbaing I have ever seen. The tinkerer realised that the stock bolt was tight and stepped back, before he got to the point of no return.

[Brian Dick]

I know I'm repeating myself but Ian Skennerton's little Small Arms ID booklets should be required reading for every new owner of any LE rifle. They all have a short chapter on disassembly which eliminates these mistakes if taken to heart. Of course, they're the big pricey sum of $10 and why buy one when you can get free information or a download from the internet. Sorry for being a bit old fashioned but I happen to have about four SMLE forends here that are worse than that one for the same reason. ALL will have to be patched before the rifles can be offered for sale which is a time consuming and tedious job. I don't just sell them on like most people do knowing they're broken. Buy a friggin' book before you get out the tool box! Ho hum.

[Capt Mil Coll]

Well again. This thread is about tearing the rifles down and cleaning and inspecting them as a first step. I dont know why you keep posting your if it aint broke dont fix it. Quite a few of us have learned through purchasing many many many different types, models, variations, manufacturers, years, calibers, usage, new and used rifles that safe is always better than sorry. I have been to the range with rifles that wouldnt function because the ejector was full of dry cosmo. Or the op rod spring was too old to function.
A lot of experienced people tear their rifles down and do a clean and inspection before taking them to the range. You say its stupid to do so. I say from experience its stupid not to.

[Brian Dick]

And a lot of inexperieced people will tear them down and break 'em in the process!! Hell, I've had woodwork just fall apart from disassembly and if they'd been left alone, they might not have. There has to be some common sense someplace. If the rifles look good, check out with gauges, function properly, and aren't devoid of grease and lubrication, by all means, just make sure the screws are tight and shoot them. If not, will the inexperienced among us, please buy a book first and learn some of the simple little tips before you dive in. 'Nuff said from me!

[Peter Laidler]

We were going through a similar thread to this before you were even on the forum Cap'n and to cut to the quick, I've been fixing many, many, many broke rifles for so looooooong, that my head hurts just thinking about it.

I think that these forums are a good place to listen to what we call 'the wisdom of the crowd' and believe me, THIS particular crowd on this fdorum have plenty of wisdom. I've got to confess that I read and ignore some of the old horse manure and ain't afraid to tell you that I'm STILL learning from others.

You're in more danger from an accident in your car than your rifle blowing up on the range. But when did you do more than check the tyres, look at the suspension ands check over the free play in the brakes when you bought your last used car? If you give me some glib answer, then just think that the next question is going to be 'but did you strip that right down........., just to learn how it works'!

I've had a bit of a sheltered life, ain't lived much, ain't done nothing much either but tinkerers and enthusiastic amateurs have been and are the bane of Armourers (and everyone else, but I only know about Armourers) lives. As I always say, in my limited experience........ oh, I won't even repeat it! But time for a cool beer as it's another busy day at the Armourers shops tomorrow

[Ridolpho]

Yes, with good 'ol e-bay there's no excuse for not having a book or two to help do proper things properly. And, of course, common sense- my immaculate MLE is not going to be touched by a screwdriver (unless someday I decide I want to see how it shoots!). If you collect and shoot these old machines you will very very probably end up "tinkering". A bit like my small fleet of british bikes- in Calgary today, if you want to run a 68 Bonneville you have to be your own mechanic and learn what it takes. I won't even get into my Norton Commando.

Ridolpho