SMLE mk3 1939

**ph3s** · 05-05-2012, 10:51 AM

Gents help me please.

How to take the bolt off?

I pulled the bolt all the way back, but I can't turn the head up to be able to remove it.

Am I missing anything to do?

**4md** · 05-05-2012, 11:26 AM

The bolt head should just ride over the spring that holds it in the slot, with a little bit of force. I cant say iv had this problem before. Its hard to diagnose unless you have the rifle in hand. some photos may help.....
is the bolthead fully out of the slot?

**ph3s** · 05-05-2012, 01:08 PM

You see the head's catch is bigger that gap. But somehow the bolt was pushed in. So it has to come off. But how?

**ian** · 05-05-2012, 01:14 PM

my no1 mk111 has a small metal part ,on edge its shaped like a letter p added which stops the bolt from being removed
it is held in place by the seer swivel screw
so the bolt cannot be removed with out stripping the whole rifle
im told ??? that this was done to stop the bolt being lost in the trenches ????
any truth in this ?????
cheers ian

**ian** · 05-05-2012, 01:15 PM

thats it in pic 2 dead center of the pic

**ph3s** · 05-05-2012, 01:18 PM

Thanks, so that is why.

love the hobby: you learn new thing every day

**4md** · 05-05-2012, 01:26 PM

very strange, if the bolthead can go on it must come off......theres not a burr on there stopping it coming off?

heres a pic of the same area of my enfield

**ian** · 05-05-2012, 01:31 PM

4md i see what you mean the part im on about is the shinny part ,,on myn it is solid ,not springy and there is no room for it to mave any way
its an odd thing ,a problem that ive heard of many times
and ive been told its there to stop the bolt from being removed >??? but that does not make sence to me
so you are of the opinion that with reasonable force it should ride over this bit of metal
ill give it a go see what happens
cheers ian

**ian** · 05-05-2012, 01:34 PM

4MD you are perfectly correct
with a small efort it rose over it
so it looks like ive been fed a bucket of s&%$ again
im glad this post came up its sertanly sorted out the problem
i will be having words with my so called expert about this
thanks 4MD you are a gent

**4md** · 05-05-2012, 01:39 PM

by ian

my no1 mk111 has a small metal part ,on edge its shaped like a letter p added which stops the bolt from being removed
it is held in place by the seer swivel screw
so the bolt cannot be removed with out stripping the whole rifle
im told ??? that this was done to stop the bolt being lost in the trenches ????
any truth in this ?????
cheers ian

never heard of that ian, the bolt is designed to come out so it can be cleaned etc.....the retaining spring is a piece of spring steel bolted in place to prevent the bolt head from jumping out the slot when cycling, but it gives way when you apply enough force with your thumb so you can remove the bolt.
I have no probs removing my bolt...... try a bit of lube and check for burrs maybe???

good luck
Paul