#4/MK1 Size 4 bolt head |
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Canuck
Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Agassiz BC Status: Offline Points: 3535 |
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Posted: April 03 2018 at 7:30pm |
I just secured this bolt head size #4. First one I have seen ever. Length is .650". Here are a couple photos.The bolt race channel doesn't appear to be tapered rather it looks like it was meant for a no-* rifle.
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Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Online Points: 8792 |
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When I was a teeny bopper,my dad had a beater No4 Mk1 with a #4 bolt head. It measured out to .648. Nobody that had anything to do with Enfields believed it to be true until we showed them the bolt head,and then they accused my dad of sanding off the 3 and restamping it with the 4. Everytime I read about there only being four sizes I would shake my head and say,no,there are five sizes. You,have just picture provided proof of that...
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Online Points: 8792 |
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Please secure another one and allow me to purchase it from you. I have a rifle that just acquired a #3 bolt head.
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Canuck
Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Agassiz BC Status: Offline Points: 3535 |
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I'll ask the guy who sold it to me, Goosic.
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Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Online Points: 8792 |
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Thank you kindly...
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Macd
Senior Member Joined: January 26 2018 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 195 |
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Be interesting to see where the #4 originated. Was it always available or was it an addition for refurbishments or FTR purposes. I read online a unit armorer manual that only referred to #0-3. Trouble is that was quite awhile ago and I don't have the link anymore. If I can find it I will post. Maybe someone with a reference book might be able to shed some light on the subject.
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Online Points: 8792 |
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Not alot of light shedding will be had Macd.
Everything I be ever read regarding the bolt heads have always indicated there are only a #0,#1,#2,and a #3. Like I stated previously,I've seen a #4 with my own eyes but have been told they don't exist,like a unicorn. We might ask a Captain Peter Laidler. Skennerton only seems to know of those #0-#3. |
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Shamu
Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 17603 |
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AhHa! a mythical beast at last.
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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That truly is an interesting piece Canuck. I must say I've read some speculation about the actual existance of an extra bolt head size. That's the first time I've ever seen proof. The vernier caliper measurement is actually the proof!
I suspect that very few of these were made for trials. I suspect the reason for not having seen more of them is the fact that if the bolt needs a head larger than the number 3 to pass the field gauge; it would be the receiver that is worn and therefore unserviceable.
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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Shamu
Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 17603 |
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I wonder if it had anything wartime emergency increase in allowable head space?
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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MJ11
Senior Member Joined: September 18 2008 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1882 |
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I know a collector I met at Bisley who had a #4 bolt head but I never asked for the actual measurement. None in my collection but a ran into a man at a match in California who was also shooting an Enfield #4 and he had done a bit of work on it. One thing he had done was to tighten up head space by silver soldering a bit of quality feeler gauge to the bolt face with a hole for the firing pin. He said it gave him just over a #3 bolt head spec. but then I know from experience that number can vary from one #3 to another. As in not all #2's are the same either.
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The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are
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Macd
Senior Member Joined: January 26 2018 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 195 |
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The plot thickens. Check this quote from Roger Wadham The 2012 Complete Book on Lee Enfield Accurizing.
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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it is one of the drawbacks to handfitting the bolt to the receiver , the US 'interchangeable' stipulation did have its plusses beyond the obvious .
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