"Timing" a LE safety

Dark Alley Dan

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Good Morning, Braintrust.

I have a #1 mk III that I'm very gradually returning to stock. I bought all the necessary resto bits from Springfield Sporters before they decided to not do business with us Frostbacks anymore.

It seems a pretty straightforward rifle, but I'm hung up on two things:

1) The safety seems to want to reinstall one way and one way only, and that way isn't correct. When it's in, the wee cog that locks the bolt wants to do it all the time. I've read elsewhere in here about "timing" the safety, and about it being a finicky little piece. So how is this done?

2) I cannot get the action into the stock. There's "tight" fit (which is good) and then there's "No way in hell" fit, which is what I have. The stock is correct for the rifle (both Lithgow, correct model and mark) but there's a point in the process where, if I were to apply the necessary force to make them merge, I'd break something. I assume this is an issue one can expect to encounter when dealing with what is essentially a hand-fitted firearm, but is there a trick I should be aware of?

Many thanks, folks. I'd like to do this right, out of respect to this old lady and Australia.

Cheers,

Dan
 
The safety just needs to have that "cog" rotated around by one or two positions on the bit that it screws onto.... The threaded two pieces can go together three or four different ways, and you just need to unscrew it until you can turn it to the next set of threads.

I hope that explanation helped... At least I know what I'm trying to say(!)

As far as stock fit... Where is it binding?
 
Dark Alley Dan,

The bedding of the forend on a Lee Enfield No1Mk3 is far from being a simple "drop in" affair. Among other aspects, the contact between the wood and the sear lugs is of major importance.

I suggest, as an introduction, reading the appropriate section (page 15) of the "Instructions For Armourers - 1931", which is offered on this page of the Milsurps.com web site:
http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=875

Cheers!

Lou
 
The enfield safety has 10,000 ways assemble it. ONLY ONE is the right way!
Leave the bolt out, assemble the safety. If it does not fully retract into the reciever wall in the forward position, you did it WRONG! Try again;)
 
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