Lee-Enfield No.4 RARE Bolt Head size 4

[Brian Dick]

The ROF(F) one I have also has "39" inscribed with an engraving pencil on the side where the extractor screw head is. When I measured it; sure enough, it's .639. I don't remember seeing any other bolt head marked this way with a "scratchy pen". Y'all notice that the length doesn't at all coincide with what ADE's very well done chart says either.

Roger, that Maltby No.4T is lovely.

[Robert303]

This has been very interesting, and with re reading Capt Laidlers notes in the post at 21 I can at least check bolts for over rotation. Now do I make a fool of myself asking what might be a stupid question or do I PM someone to get the answer? I'll risk making a fool of myself in the hope it might help others. If I have an over rotating bolt that's placing all the stress on the threads why can't I use a properly machined washer to 'Fill the Gap'?

[bigduke6]

Robert, it wouldn't be a machined washer as such, with the size of the gap you probably wouldn't get a shim in there and as for hardened shims ......It was never deigned to take shims, spacers or washers, it is a basic tell tail that some thing is a miss if your getting too much overturn.

[Peter Laidler]

Minimum overturn is built in to ensure that the recoil load is taken on the shaft of the bolt and not on the threads.

[Roger Payne]

Cheers Brian. The Maltby is a dirty girl, but looks pretty honest to me. She needs a foresight protector, a rear sight, & a cheekpiece, but is otherwise complete. I have the bits just haven't gotten round to fitting them yet. I've only had her 18 years & you can't rush into these things.........

[Brian Dick]

Yes she is but I reckon "honest" is the key word. Just the way we like to find 'em! I have one,('41 date ROFM) here now from a client that appears factory original and dry as a popcorn f--t but should clean up well. It's scopeless and he's supplied an original bracket and Mk.1 scope to collimate.

[CINDERS]

So I did some measuring on a few #4 Bh's I have and the following came out;
0's - .630, .633
1's - .641, .635, .628
2's - .633.5, .631.5, .636, .634 x 2
3's - .630, .633

[Peter Laidler]

See what I mean about ignoring the bolt head number.........! You have a size 0 at 633 and a size 3 at.......... 633". As I said, we had a cup gauge (that I didn't know existed!) to use to accurately measure from the tenon shoulder to the face

[browningautorifle]

So, for the layman to think he might have open headspace and just go up one number would be foolish indeed. He might be actually opening things up, depending on what bolthead he had. Good info in those factual numbers.

[Seaspriter]

So I did some measuring on a few #4 Bh's I have and the following came out;
0's - .630, .633
1's - .641, .635, .628
2's - .633.5, .631.5, .636, .634 x 2
3's - .630, .633

Bizarre. If the variance is so great, why bother labeling with 0, 1, 2, or 3? These are clearly meaningless numbers.

Why not just designate with the last two digits.

I have also "39" inscribed with an engraving pencil on the side where the extractor screw head is. When I measured it; sure enough, it's .639.

This must had driven armourers crazy.