No.4 MkI can be fired form half cock

[Towarzysz_Beagle]

Hello all, I'm after some help.

I've just purchased a No.4Mk1 after much searching. The rifle is in pretty good nick, functions and shoots exceptionally well.

After a good cleaning I was doing a function check and have noticed something strange. The half cock engages as it should, however once it is engaged the rifle can be fired with a pull of the trigger.

The first thought I had was that either the end of the sear was damaged or the half cock notch on the striker was damaged/sheared. However I have checked both of these things and they appear all correct.

I have noticed that the trigger is fairly light with a very short first stage compared to Enfields I have shot in the past. Is it possible that I have a worn out sear spring which is producing just enough up force for the sear to catch the half cock but not enough to properly engage it with the notch?

I'll post some pictures of the parts when I can.

Information

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[Alan de Enfield]

After a good cleaning I was doing a function check and have noticed something strange. The half cock engages as it should, however once it is engaged the rifle can be fired with a pull of the trigger.

When you say "a good cleaning" did that involve disassembly ?

[Towarzysz_Beagle]

When you say "a good cleaning" did that involve disassembly ?

No.

By good cleaning I meant, removed the bolt, removed the magazine, took forend off and gave it all a thorough cleaning removing all kinds of accumulated crud.

I did not disassemble the bolt past removing it from the rifle. Nor did I disassemble any part of the sear mechanism.

Edit: Just for clarity, I did not perform any function check on the half cock before this point. So this is the first time I've checked it's function. This issue could have existed before I picked up the rifle.

[Archmoco]

Hello all, I'm after some help.

I've just purchased a No.4Mk1 after much searching. The rifle is in pretty good nick, functions and shoots exceptionally well.

After a good cleaning I was doing a function check and have noticed something strange. The half cock engages as it should, however once it is engaged the rifle can be fired with a pull of the trigger.

The first thought I had was that either the end of the sear was damaged or the half cock notch on the striker was damaged/sheared. However I have checked both of these things and they appear all correct.

I have noticed that the trigger is fairly light with a very short first stage compared to Enfields I have shot in the past. Is it possible that I have a worn out sear spring which is producing just enough up force for the sear to catch the half cock but not enough to properly engage it with the notch?

I'll post some pictures of the parts when I can.

Some photos would help as some wartime production cocking pieces omitted half bent, but where usually replaced as deemed unsafe.

[Scout Sniper]

Did you remove the trigger guard? The king screw and sleeve bushing effects trigger setup.

Over tightening could have changed the trigger function possibly? Id certainly be looking at that if trigger guard was removed.

[Towarzysz_Beagle]

Thanks for the replies so far.

When I said it works as it should. I meant if from full cock you grasp the cocking piece pull the trigger to release it past the full bent, release the trigger and then let go of the cocking piece, the half cock catches it.

The half bent is definitely there and undamaged.

I did remove the trigger guard, but it's back on correctly, with the bushing in place and I don't think I over tightened it.

I'll get some photos up today.

[Pukka Sahib]

I guess there could be any one of several things going on here. Being lazy, what I would do, is simply replace the coking piece. Chances are, for about $10. or so, the problem would be solved. The number of safety assemblies and cocking pieces that could be installed, and the combinations of correct and incorrect parts, is simply dizzying.

[Scout Sniper]

These articles by Peter Laidler may be of help to get your head around the mechanics of trigger setup;

https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...-Peter-Laidler)

[Alan de Enfield]

No.

By good cleaning I meant, removed the bolt, removed the magazine, took forend off and gave it all a thorough cleaning removing all kinds of accumulated crud.

I did not disassemble the bolt past removing it from the rifle. Nor did I disassemble any part of the sear mechanism.

Edit: Just for clarity, I did not perform any function check on the half cock before this point. So this is the first time I've checked it's function. This issue could have existed before I picked up the rifle.

I would suggest that removing the forend counts as disassembly.

Everything is linked on the Enfield and moving one part can have a serious affect on the rest of the 'system'.

Removing the forend (did you do it correctly, or just, 'pull it off'), removing the trigger etc all affects the trigger 'group'.


I remember putting new (old) wood onto a No1 Mk3* Enfield and it would just not 'cock' something was wrong and interfering with the 'trigger group'.

These rifles are not plug & play and the worst thing seems to be that some folk just have to take them apart - and then say "it must have been like that before I started"

What's wrong with "if it 'aint broke don't try and fix it"

[Towarzysz_Beagle]

I would suggest that removing the forend counts as disassembly.

Everything is linked on the Enfield and moving one part can have a serious affect on the rest of the 'system'.

Removing the forend (did you do it correctly, or just, 'pull it off'), removing the trigger etc all affects the trigger 'group'.


I remember putting new (old) wood onto a No1 Mk3* Enfield and it would just not 'cock' something was wrong and interfering with the 'trigger group'.

These rifles are not plug & play and the worst thing seems to be that some folk just have to take them apart - and then say "it must have been like that before I started"

What's wrong with "if it 'aint broke don't try and fix it"

The forend was removed correctly. Bands removed, upper hand guards removed, then king screw, then trigger guard screw, and then gently rocked off at the receiver end. Put back together in reverse.

I'm not a complete spud. I have owned and disassembled Enfield Rifles for a solid 15 years now without ever causing damage or something like this to happen.

If I perform the test where you cock it, turn the safety on then slowly disengage the safety while repeatedly pulling the trigger to generate a slip and test the half cock it catches the sear in half cock as it should.

I've re-examined the half bent and there appears to be some very minor wear, perhaps this could be what is allowing it to slip out of the groove if the trigger is pulled?