SMLE safety problem

**sailorjosh** · 12-20-2006 10:02 PM

I have an old sportered SMLE (no1 mk3*) (well it's my dad's but I'm fixing it and he's giving it to me BUT ANYWAYS) The safety is...wiggly. It does not click on or off - it just flips around loosley. I haven't fired the rifle, but my dad did and he says that because it's so loose, it always flips on after you fire and you can't open the bolt. What's the likely culprit? What part might need replacing (if any)? Am I just dumb and missing something obvious? I'm ordering some parts now, so I might as well get the safety stuff too, if it's needed.

EDIT: I found the problem, this thread can be deleted, Thanks anyways!

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**Highly Recommended** · 12-20-2006 10:02 PM

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**Warren** · 12-26-2006 05:55 PM

The spring is bent, or if a No.1 Mk. III you probably lost the washer between the spring and the safety. Get a small compression spring at the hardware and cut off three coils and place it between the spring/keeper and the safety lever. I presume this is a shooter and not a collection piece.......

**sdh1911** · 12-26-2006 11:53 PM

Give Sarcos a call, I think they have on the shelf.-SDH

**gunasauras** · 07-25-2007 08:58 PM

It likely is a combination of the retaining spring needing a little bending (easily done in a vice, or with two pairs of pliers....carefully) and a loose retaining screw. Bend the spring slightly as noted above, and put a drop of locktite on the retaining screw and tighten it up.....I've repaired a number of these in this manner that were only loose...

**Claven2** · 07-27-2007 09:24 AM

It definitely sounds like the spacer washer is missing between the tension spring and the safety lever.

Your local gunsmith will likely have a box of spares as gunsmiths scrap shot-out sportered SMLEs for parts all the time.

**K31** · 03-12-2008 12:47 AM

The safety catch might be missing from the threaded portion of the locking bolt(safety lever). People often remove them, and can't figure out how to make them work again. So they throw them away. I have also seen a couple where someone removed the tiny detent pins! Either of these will cause trouble, if you need parts, I would be happy to send them for postage! I have a whole drawer full of safety components.

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