Enfield will not open
- Thread starter ranman50
- Start date
Joe Amorosi
CGN Regular
- Location
- Not Where I Thought I Was....
The safety may not be installed correctly. Has anybody had it apart lately?
- Location
- Western Manitoba
It is difficult to diagnose over the Internet! Perhaps you can see what is going on if you remove the fore-arm wood?? For a No. 1 Mark III* Lee Enfield, is important to remove the forearm before the butt stock - there will be a big stock bolt - the head is accessible via the butt trap - you will need a sizeable screw driver - like lug wrench size - to reach in and undo the stock bolt - the nose of that bolt will be square, it usually protrudes through the wrist and will fit into a slot on a metal plate on rear of the forearm - if you try to forcibly turn it with the fore-arm in place, chances are good you would break the rear of the forearm. Typically undo that "king screw" in front of the magazine well and the small cross screw at the rear of the trigger guard - depending on what is left on that rifle, there may be another screw forward of that, that holds a spring loaded barrel band - then remove the fore-arm keeping it parallel with the barrel - you DO NOT want to "hinge" it by pulling down the front end - that will likely break or compress the "draws" in the upper rear of the stock.
Chances are good that the trigger will be hinged to the trigger guard - and then the trigger sear arm is hinged likely to the receiver - you might have to reassemble the metal parts, without the wood, and then watch and see what happens as you are or are not able to open the bolt with the firing pin / cocking piece forward. The ones that I have "fixed" are incredibly smooth operating bolt rifles - about total wrong to not be able to open a bolt from the fired position. You could have broken pieces inside - I really have no clue what precisely is wrong with your rifle, but there are likely many possibilities.
Chances are good that the trigger will be hinged to the trigger guard - and then the trigger sear arm is hinged likely to the receiver - you might have to reassemble the metal parts, without the wood, and then watch and see what happens as you are or are not able to open the bolt with the firing pin / cocking piece forward. The ones that I have "fixed" are incredibly smooth operating bolt rifles - about total wrong to not be able to open a bolt from the fired position. You could have broken pieces inside - I really have no clue what precisely is wrong with your rifle, but there are likely many possibilities.
That’s what I was thinking. I’ve actually done it myself!
I agree that the likely culprit is the safety has been installed improperly and is out of sequence.
As mentioned, take it out of the rifle, try the bolt function and if it works properly, reinstall the safety in the proper position.
There is a multi tooth worm thread on the safety and it has to be installed in the right position before screwing down the holding plate.
You may have to take a few attempts to get it right.
If you're uncomfortable doing this, take it to a smith or a knowledgeable acquaintance.
If you haven't taken a fore stock off a Lee Enfield before, get someone to show you how to do it "properly" It isn't rocket science but if it's taken off incorrectly, you WILL damage the ways (bedding)
As mentioned, take it out of the rifle, try the bolt function and if it works properly, reinstall the safety in the proper position.
There is a multi tooth worm thread on the safety and it has to be installed in the right position before screwing down the holding plate.
You may have to take a few attempts to get it right.
If you're uncomfortable doing this, take it to a smith or a knowledgeable acquaintance.
If you haven't taken a fore stock off a Lee Enfield before, get someone to show you how to do it "properly" It isn't rocket science but if it's taken off incorrectly, you WILL damage the ways (bedding)
I do not know the history of this rifle and it appears to be in good shape although it has had the wood “sporterized”. Took the safety out and still doesn’t open this leads me to believe someone has wrong cocking piece installed on the bolt.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - when you have the bolt out of the rifle - take a picture for us of the left side of the cocking piece - where it protrudes below the bolt body - perhaps it can be seen what is out of order there? You have mentioned a couple times about a "wrong" cocking piece - is several variations of those that I thought would all work similar, but perhaps is possible someone installed a round head cocking piece for an early No. 4 rifle, into your No. 1 rifle - I would have done so and thought it would work - is something not correct, though!!!
I think comments are trying to help you - and I think all of us are presuming that you have had the safety lever flipped fully forward when you are trying that bolt - that you did so on both rifles. The fact that you got the same symptom on a different rifle suggests not likely much out of order within your rifle.
I think comments are trying to help you - and I think all of us are presuming that you have had the safety lever flipped fully forward when you are trying that bolt - that you did so on both rifles. The fact that you got the same symptom on a different rifle suggests not likely much out of order within your rifle.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I only have one of that era - is not a military thing any more - is a Parker Hale sporter but says "No.1 Mk. III *" on the right side wrist - was made at Ishapore in 1942. So I am not sure what was critical alterations to yours compared to this one. I notice this one appears to have much narrower "rail" below the bolt than yours - or perhaps much larger holes? This one feeds, chambers, fires, extracts and ejects just fine. Someone who knows more about these may be able to see a significant difference that I am missing??
Attachments
- Location
- Western Manitoba
What I would do - not really knowing what is wrong - assuming that the rifle and bolt, as is, worked at one time - if you grasp the bolt body with left hand and pull the cocking piece rearward - perhaps 2mm - that cocking piece will rotate counterclockwise and get to the "fired" position - it is in the "bolt open" position now. Right now the firing pin tip is not protruding from the face of the bolt, but if you rotate the cocking piece, it will go forward and the firing pin will protrude.
Maybe try that on yours, and see if it looks similar to this one - that little piece on the bolt body that separates the two grooves at rear of the bolt body could be broken off - the little nub on the cocking piece could be broken off, etc. You will have to turn that cocking piece back like it was to get it to go back into your receiver.
FYI - the picture in your post #13 has the safety thing looking exactly the same as this one - with the safety lever fully ahead.
Maybe try that on yours, and see if it looks similar to this one - that little piece on the bolt body that separates the two grooves at rear of the bolt body could be broken off - the little nub on the cocking piece could be broken off, etc. You will have to turn that cocking piece back like it was to get it to go back into your receiver.
FYI - the picture in your post #13 has the safety thing looking exactly the same as this one - with the safety lever fully ahead.
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- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - look at your picture in Post #12 - that "extra" metal on the rear face of the bottom (left side) locking lug - then look at my picture in Post #15 and compare what the rear surfaces of the rear lug looks like - is possibly a clue about something out of order with yours?
I'm seeing something at the bottom of the "internal" locking lug in your high def pic. Good photo job.
It looks like a protrusion but because it's two dimensionl, it may just be a reflection.
If it is a protrusion, it shouldn't be there and will definitely cause the issues you mentioned.
It can be easily removed with some careful stoning. It's also very hard and will dull a file if you try one.
Whatever caused that damage isn't a good thing and it is likely mirror imaged on the face of the lug recess inside your receiver.
