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Componants of the Action
The action is a simple mechanical arrangement especially when compared with more modern weapons. The main components are the bolt; the sear; the trigger and the main spring.
A hollow steel tube bearing the cocking handle and the locking lugs has a bolt head screwed into the breech end. The bolt head carries the extractor claw and is the replaceable part to overcome problems of headspace. Inserted into this is the striker and striker spring. Screwed to the end of the striker is the cocking piece, and L shaped piece of steel which allows manual operation of the striker. The lower leg carries a stud and a deeply cut groove (the half cock bent) which are mechanical safeties and an angled face which is the full face bent.
The Sear
The Sear is a solid steel L shaped lever.
The Trigger
The trigger is a solid steel lever which bears two prominent bumps: These bumps give the action the first and second trigger pressures.
The Mainspring
The main spring is a substantial solid leaf spring bent at an angle so that it operates on both the sear and the magazine release catch.
First Pressure
The trigger in neutral is loose with slight fore and aft movement possible. When the trigger is squeezed rearwards resistance to that rearward movement can be felt. From this position a substantial increase in trigger pressure is needed to move the trigger further rearward. This position is known as first pressure. The trigger position on first pressure is with the first bump (lower) in contact with the sear. The nose of the sear bears substantially on the face of the cocking piece (the full face bent).
Second Pressure
When the finger pressure is increased the trigger will move further rearwards until resistance to the movement is felt; this is second pressure. The trigger position on second pressure is with both 'bumps' in contact with the sear. The nose of the sear has been drawn down the face of the cocking piece so that it is just bearing.
Firing
A further increase in pressure on the trigger will move the trigger rearwards to its full extent of travel. When the trigger is so pulled, only the second 'bump' (higher) bears on the sear and the nose of the sear has now been pulled clear of the face of the cocking piece. Nothing is now holding the striker in the cocked position so the compressed striker spring forces the striker forward.
Mechanical Safeties
This is incorporated in two forms:
(a) The design of the weapon in that the breech remains sealed until the bullet has left the barrel. This is achieved by the locking arrangement of the bolt.
(b) Mechanically preventing the cartridge from being struck before the breech is fully closed which is achieved as follows:
1. If the weapon is cocked with a fully closed bolt, it is only the nose of the sear bearing on the face of the cocking piece which prevents the striker flying forward. In this state it is conceiveable that maltreatment such as a sharp knock could cause disengagement of the nose of the sear with the cocking piece. Should this happen the nose of the sear engages the half cock bent, which stops the striker short of striking a cartridge in the breech.
This half cock bent is cut so as to form a cave, the lower lip of which prevents the nose of the sear being pulled downwards:. So in this position the bolt is solidly locked. The bolt handle cannot be raised and obviously the trigger cannot be pulled. The only way to disengage this position is to manually pull the cocking piece rearwards until the nose of the sear re-engages the full face bent of the cocking piece.
This position has been artificially induced to give a safe method of carriage with a breeched live cartridge in which a minimum amount of movement is a covert position is required to render the-weapon in a firing state.
Note! from the Editor - Carrying a Rifle with a cartridge in the Breech is a requirement for Operational Police Riflemen. I would not recommend this practise to anyone else!
2. The rotary action of closing the bolt turns the bolt tube engaging the locking lugs. Simultaneously this aligns the stud on the cocking piece with a groove in the bolt tube allowing forward movement of the striker. If the bolt is half closed the stud and groove are out of alignment and the strikers forward movement is balked. Providing the trigger is released, lowering the bolt will re-align the stud and groove; the striker will fly forward but will be stopped by the nose of the sear engaging the half cock bent.
It is possible that the trigger may be squeezed when the bolt although not fully closed, is almost fully closed. on its forward movement the cocking piece stud can strike the mouth of the bolt groove a glancing blow, which will rotate the bolt to the closed position and so the breech will be locked at the time of firing.
Applied Safety
This is commonly called the safety catch and is a manually operated lever, designed to prevent the accidental discharge of the weapon.
1. With weapon cocked.
On moving the applied safety lever to the rear position the half moon end of the locking bolt Is rotated into engagement with a front recess (a short cam groove) in the side of the cocking piece. This engagement causes the cocking piece to be moved slightly rearwards disconnecting the engagement of the nose of the sear with the cocking piece rendering the trigger inoperative.
The mechanical engagement of the locking bolt and this recess is so arranged as to prevent the bolt from being rotated.
2. With weapon uncocked.
When the action is in the fired position and the applied safety lever is moved to the rear position, the bolt locking group operate in the same manner as in the cocked position except that the half moon end of the locking engages in a rear recess in the cocking piece and so prevents the cocking piece from being pulled to the 'cocked' position.
Fore end
1. REINFORCING BEARING
2. FRONT BODY BEARING
3. DRAWS
4. REAR BODY BEARING
The weapon is fitted with a wooden fore end and the main body bearings are wooden. The inter-relationship of the four sets of bearings; reinforcement bearing; front body bearing; draw; rear body bearing will directly influence the accuracy of the weapon. As they are all wooden, a skilled armourer can balance the interrelationship to ensure this accuracy is achieved.
Conclusion
It will now be appreciated that this weapon is mechanically uncomplicated with a minimum number of functional parts and its long pedigree of proven robustness and reliability made The Enfield Enforcer a weapon suitable for the Police Service in roles where accuracy is more important than fire power.
Write to me ... Mark@amstevens.fsnet.co.uk
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