Just curious ... Every Enfield rifle I have ever handled has a half-#### feature, yet I can't really see any use for it (especially in a combat weapon), yet somebody must have thought it was an inportant feature since it didn't go the way of the dodo such as the magazine cutoff on the SMLE ... Can anyone shed any light on this ?
Why a half-#### on the Lee Enfield rifle ?
- Thread starter RobSmith
- Start date
Don't know the real reasoning but...one of the No 4's I had a while back, if you put the safety on and pulled the trigger, then released the safety, the striker fell to half ####. If that was not there...it'd fire the weapon...
Maybe a pretty important safety feature??
The Browning Hi-Powers have/had the feature too.
From what I've read, there is no real good reason for the half-#### feature on the Enfield.
I have heard that the feature was used to carry a round up the spout for extended periods during the battle. I wouldn't want to try it, personally.
From what I've read, there is no real good reason for the half-#### feature on the Enfield.
I have heard that the feature was used to carry a round up the spout for extended periods during the battle. I wouldn't want to try it, personally.
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On a single action pistol it makes sense, it's a critical safety feature. 1911's have it as well.
I guess if you ever had to manually #### a No4, it would make sense as well. I just don't see any practicle need to #### a No4......?
Me neither ... I can understand a guy who chooses to carry without a round in the chamber, but it seems to me that with wet, numb by the cold, or gloved hands it would be a hellovalot easier (not to mention just as fast) to just cycle the action then fiddle around with the cocking piece and hope that you can find enough strenght in your fingers to grab the thing and yank it back.
I would be willing to bet its for a weapon handling drill in the army knownas "make safe". In modern terms with a C-7 it is an unload followed by a load. Somebody with a weird old army pam (looking at you riflechair) may be able to clarify this theory.
Well - I think its a desireable feature - it allows you to have a round chambered, with no risk of a firing pin strike, and a relatively quiet manual cocking feature. Good for use in the military, and, in my case, deer hunting.
Perhaps it was meant to function as a safety feature before the pawl safety was incorporated?
Perhaps it was meant to function as a safety feature before the pawl safety was incorporated?
From what I have read, this is one of those great British developments from a time when Soldiers stood before each other and marched forward. It falls into the same category as the magazine cut off, when the LE was to be loaded with single shots and the mag was for emergencies.
There is no good reason for the half-####, but the British soldiery felt the rifle was unsafe without it. It was discontinued for a time, then brought back after vehement protest by the rank and file.
Pete
There is no good reason for the half-####, but the British soldiery felt the rifle was unsafe without it. It was discontinued for a time, then brought back after vehement protest by the rank and file.
Pete
Well with enough work the safety can be moved off (rubbing againt equipment or webbing while carrying). I know a lefty that has it on all the time to stop the bolt handle from riding up while carrying.
Either way its an additional safety feature that may have a purpose when you least expect it.
Either way its an additional safety feature that may have a purpose when you least expect it.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
The half #### is desireable on the Enfield and I have used it a lot over the years. As RC mentioned, the safety can work its way of by rubbing on other equipment while walking.The half #### feature also allows the shooter to recock the rifle without opening the bolt if a failure to fire happens, try that with a Mauser.The half #### also locks the bolt and prevents the rifle from firing ,so while you're trashing your way through heavy cover nothing springs open or the safety works off.
When handing thousands of rifles to green troops the added safety feature had to have saved at least one life just based on statistical probabilities. Also having the option to make your rifle ready to fire with just one little click rather than cycling the bolt had to have come in handy a few times. The Finn Sniper(His name escapes me) used iron sights because he could stay that much lower so the little things do matter. Not only would it have made less noise but less movement as well.
"No good reason" for a half-####...... good thinking until you get your hands on one of the older Lee-Metfords, which had no safety of any kind. The half-#### notch WAS the safety and, later, when mechanical safeties (which could and did break) were fitted, the half-#### notch was left on AS A SAFETY FEATURE.
If the rifle is kept in anything like decent condition, the half-#### will still be serviceable when the rocker safety goes South. It's a good feature.
If the rifle is kept in anything like decent condition, the half-#### will still be serviceable when the rocker safety goes South. It's a good feature.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Of course there is,
"we have always done it that way"
Probably why the mag cutoff lasted so long.
"we have always done it that way"
Probably why the mag cutoff lasted so long.
I am sure it was a safety feature - and as a bib beliver in Murphy, probably a good one.
I recall a sniper telling me about going to sleep with his rifle on half #### and waking up with ememy troops near him. He said that if he pulled the cocking piece back with the trigger pulled he could #### the rifle without making any noise.
When sitting in a deer stand I sometimes use the half ####. Usually I just leave the bolt lifted, but in some situations the bolt tends to slide back and drop a round in the snow. The half #### solves that.
I recall a sniper telling me about going to sleep with his rifle on half #### and waking up with ememy troops near him. He said that if he pulled the cocking piece back with the trigger pulled he could #### the rifle without making any noise.
When sitting in a deer stand I sometimes use the half ####. Usually I just leave the bolt lifted, but in some situations the bolt tends to slide back and drop a round in the snow. The half #### solves that.
I like it myself you can hold it and lower the bolt to half safety,with my Win mod 70,and Rem 700,and mauser's you can hold the trigger while lowering the bolt and the stricker won't engage(hopefully)!
I don't like hopefully,how about you?
Bob
I don't like hopefully,how about you?
Bob
