repro bayonets for the Enfield

[HenryC]

Has anyone besides me had trouble fitting repro (Pakistani) bayonets on their Enfield? I have an old (mid-1980s) Armisport Enfield that won't take a repro bayonet, at least not a foreign one so far. It seems that the barrel is very slightly tapered toward the muzzle, and the bayonet socket will only go so far before it sticks. It clears the front sight, but will go no further. I'm betting that the specs were made based on the diameter of the barrel at the muzzle (or some other tube that looked close,) instead of further down where it's a tad wider.

Any suggestions?
HenryC

[flattop32355]

Re: repro bayonets for the Enfield

Has anyone besides me had trouble fitting repro (Pakistani) bayonets on their Enfield? I have an old (mid-1980s) Armisport Enfield that won't take a repro bayonet, at least not a foreign one so far. It seems that the barrel is very slightly tapered toward the muzzle, and the bayonet socket will only go so far before it sticks. It clears the front sight, but will go no further. I'm betting that the specs were made based on the diameter of the barrel at the muzzle (or some other tube that looked close,) instead of further down where it's a tad wider.

Any suggestions?
HenryC

Apparently, just about all repro (India/Pakistan) bayonets won't fit right off. Most need to be either reamed out (diameter), or like mine, be shortened on the back end to fit far enough down to clear the sight.
Options are to get an original, or to take the repro to a gunsmith.

good luck.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: repro bayonets for the Enfield

A few years back I took @.025 off of the I.D. and @.050 off of the overall length of a repro bayonet for a friend of mine. (In machinist speak that is a mile!)

[HenryC]

Re: repro bayonets for the Enfield

Apparently, just about all repro (India/Pakistan) bayonets won't fit right off. Most need to be either reamed out (diameter), or like mine, be shortened on the back end to fit far enough down to clear the sight.
Options are to get an original, or to take the repro to a gunsmith.

good luck.

Yeah, my other option is also to find an original, but I'm hesitant to buy through the mail because I'd have to be sure of the fit. I usually take my Enfield to every event I attend (even when I'm going cav.) on the off chance someone has either an original or repro I can buy that'll fit. One dude had an original that fit perfectly, but it wasn't for sale.

Still looking.

HenryC

[JimConley]

Re: repro bayonets for the Enfield

I've had no problems since my Enfield is newer. But your best bet, and I'm sure others will echo this, is to pick an original. Repros do not hold up as well as an original. You can't go wrong with an original, obviously. I picked one up from Shiloh Relics. But don't mention to him that you plan to use it for living history. He would like to see all his items as simply relics, but he is a good guy. You may not get a perfect fit. You may have sand out some of the rust and that should fit. After recieving mine, I had no trouble. Actually, since I have de-blued it an taken all the markings off, the orignal is actually a little big. But, as I said, no wrong can be done with an original bayonet.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: repro bayonets for the Enfield

Weird...... I have the opposite problem. My original bayonet don't fit my repro Enfield. Go figure! :angry_smi

[2RIVB]

Re: repro bayonets for the Enfield

Mr.Johnson,
Imagine if the space shuttle had that kind of tolerance. Hell, imagine if a car had that kind of tolerance. Sounds likewood working specs to me. :D

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: repro bayonets for the Enfield

Mr.Johnson,
Imagine if the space shuttle had that kind of tolerance. Hell, imagine if a car had that kind of tolerance. Sounds likewood working specs to me. :D

I think they can hold tighter tolerances with wood :wink_smil

I dont think they know what a micrometer is...were ever they make those things.