I have noticed that there are a lot of REPEAT threads on this Forum that usually start "My Safety doesn't work" or something similar.
Most of the time it is the fault of someone who has taken the Safety apart to clean it or dis-assemble the rifle, and does not have the knowledge that the safety has to be "timed" to work properly. For illustration purposes, I have used a Number 1 Mark III SMLE rifle here, but the Number 4 Rifle is similar.
WARNING - LEFT HAND THREADS
On the Lee Enfield or SMLE Safety, there are SIX possible starting combinations, and FIVE of these are wrong. When the Safety Lever is seperated from the Safety Catch it is possible to engage the wrong thread, and when assembled either will not work as a Safety, will not allow the rifle to ####, or will allow the striker to fall.
It is very simple, if you know how. Take the Safety Lever and place it in front of you, with the outside (flat) side down, and the inside with the projection on the Thumbpiece upwards. You then take the Safety Catch, with the projection on it upwards, and screw it onto the Safety Lever.
If you are really lucky, it will align in the proper position. You screw the Safety Catch all the way onto the Safety Lever until it stops, hopefully in the position where it is at approximately 11 o'clock, forming a shallow "V". This can vary slightly. If it at the 9 o'clock position, it is wrong, as is any other position. If it is not in the 11 o'clock position, unscrew it, and rotate it slightly until you feel it engage another thread, and screw it tight again. Keep at it until you have it at the 11 o'clock position. See Photographs.
.
.
.
Now, flip the assembled Safety over, and put it into the Rifle. It should look like the following photo, and note that the angle relationship of the Safety Catch to the Safety Lever is now at 1 o'clock, and the Safety is fully forward in the OFF SAFE (FIRE) position.
.
.
Also, notice the small grooves in the Safety Washer, and the corresponding grooves in the Locking Spring.
.
.
With the Safety in the OFF position, the Safety Catch will be flush with the bottom of the groove in the receiver, and not project from the left rear side wall, with no gap between the Safety Lever and the Safety Catch. With the bolt out, rotate the Safety Lever to the ON SAFE position, and you will see the Safety Catch move inwards, projecting through the inside of the left rear side wall, and upwards in the groove.
.
.
.
There have also been questions on the proper magazine for the Number 1 or Number 4 rifle. The following two pictures should help identify the correct one for your rifle.
.
.
.
Hopefully, this should help.
.
.
.
Most of the time it is the fault of someone who has taken the Safety apart to clean it or dis-assemble the rifle, and does not have the knowledge that the safety has to be "timed" to work properly. For illustration purposes, I have used a Number 1 Mark III SMLE rifle here, but the Number 4 Rifle is similar.
WARNING - LEFT HAND THREADS
On the Lee Enfield or SMLE Safety, there are SIX possible starting combinations, and FIVE of these are wrong. When the Safety Lever is seperated from the Safety Catch it is possible to engage the wrong thread, and when assembled either will not work as a Safety, will not allow the rifle to ####, or will allow the striker to fall.
It is very simple, if you know how. Take the Safety Lever and place it in front of you, with the outside (flat) side down, and the inside with the projection on the Thumbpiece upwards. You then take the Safety Catch, with the projection on it upwards, and screw it onto the Safety Lever.
If you are really lucky, it will align in the proper position. You screw the Safety Catch all the way onto the Safety Lever until it stops, hopefully in the position where it is at approximately 11 o'clock, forming a shallow "V". This can vary slightly. If it at the 9 o'clock position, it is wrong, as is any other position. If it is not in the 11 o'clock position, unscrew it, and rotate it slightly until you feel it engage another thread, and screw it tight again. Keep at it until you have it at the 11 o'clock position. See Photographs.
.
.
.
Now, flip the assembled Safety over, and put it into the Rifle. It should look like the following photo, and note that the angle relationship of the Safety Catch to the Safety Lever is now at 1 o'clock, and the Safety is fully forward in the OFF SAFE (FIRE) position.
.
.
Also, notice the small grooves in the Safety Washer, and the corresponding grooves in the Locking Spring.
.
.
With the Safety in the OFF position, the Safety Catch will be flush with the bottom of the groove in the receiver, and not project from the left rear side wall, with no gap between the Safety Lever and the Safety Catch. With the bolt out, rotate the Safety Lever to the ON SAFE position, and you will see the Safety Catch move inwards, projecting through the inside of the left rear side wall, and upwards in the groove.
.
.
.
There have also been questions on the proper magazine for the Number 1 or Number 4 rifle. The following two pictures should help identify the correct one for your rifle.
.
.
.
Hopefully, this should help.
.
.
.
Last edited:
