Need help with 1943 .303 British Enfield No 4 Mk1

[willienels]

Just bought my 1943 .303 British Enfield No 4 Mk1. I was trying to figure out how to remove the bolt and somehow managed to lock the bolt into the closed and locked position. No matter what I do with the safety or anything else, I cannot raise the bolt handle. Removing the magazine does not help. I need some assistance!

 

[1KPerDay]

Can you manually cock the striker/cocking piece? Safety forward, you should be able to pull rearward on the cocking piece at the back of the bolt. Does it cock?

 

[1KPerDay]

Meantime, see here
http://www.surplusrifle.com/smle/boltdisassembly/index.asp

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Take the safety off.

 

[1KPerDay]

Take the safety off.

No matter what I do with the safety or anything else, I cannot raise the bolt handle.

....


Or do you mean "remove the safety mechanism from the rifle"?

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I meant to just take the safety off (not removing it). I should have said for him to move the safety all the way to the rear. I know what the op said, but still think the safety is on.

 

[Bexar]

Is the gun on half-cock?

I had this happen about thirty-five years ago. If I remember right my Dad pulled back the cocking serrated pull piece and tried to find a spot where a notch on the cocking piece allowed for the bolt to be lifted. He pulled the cocking piece back and forth while lifting the bolt handle. He found the sweet spot and the bolt handle raised. He then explained another problem was the bolt head slides in a cut out rail and occasionally there is a little rail mounted keeper key that interferes with bolt retraction. He also said a broken firing pin can jam up the works. Have you tried pulling the trigger while lifting the bolt handle. Is the bolt cocked? Safe direction when pulling the trigger,

Good luck. I think your problem has something to do with the bolt head not being screwed down completely before the bolt has been reinserted.

Thirty-five years is a long time ago. Hope that helps.

Bexar

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I thought about the bolt head not being screwed in all the way too, but after thinking it thru I don't see how it would be possible to close the bolt at all, even with excessive headspace.

I hope the op chimes in when he gets it fixed.

 

[willienels]

Thanks everybody! I'm out of trouble. The bolt was on half-cock. All I had to do was pull back on the cocking piece to the full cock position. That fixed the problem. I also learned how to remove the bolt by holding down on the little keeper as the bolt was pulled back. Also learned that because mine has the little keeper, it is a Mk1, not a Mk1*. I am always amazed at the generous responses I get here!

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks everybody! I'm out of trouble. The bolt was on half-cock. All I had to do was pull back on the cocking piece to the full cock position. That fixed the problem.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Who say's you can't teach an old dog new tricks. In all the years I've messed with Enfield's, I never knew they had a half cock.

 

[Sunray]

"...never knew they had a half cock..." Acts as a safety.
"...Just bought my 1943 .303 British Enfield No 4 Mk1..." Have the headspace checked before you shoot it. Thousands of 'em have been assembled out of parts bins with zero QC.
Go here for good info about history, markings, etc. http://www.enfieldrifles.ca/main.htm
More here. http://www.303british.com/