Stuck No4 mk1 Butt Stock
- Thread starter David1974
- Start date
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
You removed the leather washer that sits above the buttstock screw I hope. Otherwise it can be very tough to get sufficient bite to remove the screw.
There are some screwdrivers better suited than others for the task, but another thing to try is apply a bit of heat to the exposed hole/screw at the wrist. Warm it up with a propane torch. Used in moderation, it should not hurt the finish, but keep the flame low enough so you are not burning the stock.
Amazing how a little heat can free up just about anything. You can try and soak the exposed end with penetrating oil as well prior to the heat, but it has a long way to travel before it gets to where it is needed.
There are some screwdrivers better suited than others for the task, but another thing to try is apply a bit of heat to the exposed hole/screw at the wrist. Warm it up with a propane torch. Used in moderation, it should not hurt the finish, but keep the flame low enough so you are not burning the stock.
Amazing how a little heat can free up just about anything. You can try and soak the exposed end with penetrating oil as well prior to the heat, but it has a long way to travel before it gets to where it is needed.
If the big gianat screw is unscrewed, and the butt seems to simply be stuck in the socket, use a rubber mallet and hit the butt on the top side, then the underside, then on top, then the underside... eventually it should start to move.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Or take a long handled screw driver & use a cresent wrench as added torque. Most of the long screw drivers I have are square on the shaft, works great.
I find that tapping on the end of the screwdriver with a hammer while trying to turn it often does the trick. It's kinda like using an impact tool. The tapping helps break the seal that has been formed by rust and/or dried up goop. Good luck, it should come off with a little elbow grease 
Thanks guys. It looks like I am just going to have to continue hitting it with a rubber mallet *and* adding some heat to it. The screw was removed. I know that much!
On a funny note. when removing the cosmoline from inside the butt stock I dug out a huge blob of the stuff. inside that 'mass' was the washer. At first I thought it was a rubber replacement untill I washed it off. The leather washer has been 'perfectly' preserved. Cosmoline preserves ANYTHING. I really should take a pic of it.
On a funny note. when removing the cosmoline from inside the butt stock I dug out a huge blob of the stuff. inside that 'mass' was the washer. At first I thought it was a rubber replacement untill I washed it off. The leather washer has been 'perfectly' preserved. Cosmoline preserves ANYTHING. I really should take a pic of it.
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
Another option is to use a 3/8 or 1/2 inch drive socket with an insertable flat tip screwdriver bit. Use however many socket extensions to get at the screw. Put in a padded vise, it's amazing how much torque you can achieve with a ratchet. Using this method, I have only had one that failed to come off (homemade Win 1897 buttstock).
