Enfield will not open

Looking at your photos, I doubt the cocking piece is the problem. No harm though in trying a different part, though. Do you have a firing pin removal tool?
 
Maybe I need to try another cocking piece

That cocking piece looks fine to me and is correct for your rifle.

The later cocking piece in the pics was a late war expedient type that proved itself to be acceptable and was carried over in later production. The portion at the bottom is identical to the cocking piece in your pic.

There are no blemishes on your cocking piece to indicate it's your problem
 
Really reaching for small stuff! Look on your picture in post #13 - you can see a scuff mark - scrape mark - to rear of that safety. Look on your picture in Post #12 - is a corresponding scuff / scrape mark on that cocking piece side - would be "tight" when the cocking piece is forward, maybe "loose" when the cocking piece is pulled rearward. As if that cocking piece might be slightly bent? The receiver bolt way has been "caved in"? - I do not recognize what those divot marks that are in your picture in Post #13 - behind the safety in middle of that scraped area and ahead and above that safety axle. As mentioned - really reaching for something small / something unusual to explain what you are describing.
 
I didn't read the thread. But I have a Lee Enfield that the cocking pieces little key was worn and would just lock up in the ramp on the bolt body.

but also the ramp on the bolt body could cause the same issue.

I ended up replacing the key on the cocking piece and it works as seen in these pics

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Rather than trying to fix that part, if it's worn, Marstar has stripped bolts for $20 and cocking pieces for the same price.

Seeing as it's already a mixmaster, you won't be deteriorating value and save yourself a lot of time and effort.

If it is the "key" on the cocking piece, likely the bolt cam areas it runs on are in bad shape as well.
 
I will look closely at this key mentioned and make up a firing pin removal tool. This is slowly eating my sanity…..thanks everyone and enjoy the long weekend


Take the bolt out of the rifle. Hold the bolt body with one hand and use your other hand to twist the cocking piece.

Don't pull back on the cocking piece when twisting it. It should ride up the ramp (from the longer cutout to the shorter one) fairly easy. Then from the shorter cutout to the longer one will require a bit more force but not much more.

That will tell you if it's the key or the bolt body ramp. If it doesn't go well, take it apart. If it fine..it's not the issue
 
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Evanguy, your response was the fix. Cocking piece would not ride up as explained in your post. On close examination a slight bruise was found . This was enough to hang everything up. Stoned the bruise and now everything is silky smooth. Thanks everybody for the help getting my sanity back .
 

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