The safety on an original model Newton I recently examined worked when swung from fire to the first safe position, both preventing firing and also locking the bolt, but when swung further forward went past the unlock safe position and the horizontal "scabbard" position and stuck at a downward angle, without noticeable detent on the way. By pulling back the cocking piece, the safety can be moved back to the unlock safe position, but the bolt remains locked, and the safety will not move further rearward.

I do not own this rifle, and I do not have it with me to examine, but I wonder if anyone who knows Newtons could suggest what part(s) might be broken or missing to cause this problem and/or how to get the bolt released so it can be field-stripped to examine.

Stuart Otteson's article in The Bolt Action, vol. II, mentions the bolt lock plunger sometimes locking the bolt of these rifles when its spring broke, but he does not describe how to open the bolt so the problem can be fixed. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around Otteson's diagrams, in part because he shows the parts as they operate in working condition, not as they operate when broken.

Apologies if this topic has arisen here before. I tried searching on "Newton safety" and found no suggestions.

Thanks to any and all for looking.

My current Newton safety is also broken, but mine causes me no problems so I have never even looked at how it might come apart.

Mine not only rotates forward, but will rotate the full 360 degrees with NO felt detents. It works fine as a safety though, as long as I turn it to the correct position. It also doesn't interfere with the rifle firing if I move it out of the "safety on" position.

I hope someone answers your question, 'cause then I might bother to take mine apart and see exactly what is going on in there. I suspect with mine that someone had it apart before and either forgot to put the ball for the ball/detent back in, or lost it altogether.

I also wish someone could tell us the name of a good person to install a simple single stage trigger in place of those blasted double-set Newton triggers. They are reliable enough and have good setable pulls, but they move one's fingers so close to the rear of the trigger guard that firing the rifle (.30 Belted Newton) just creams my knuckles.

PS: I'm not sure what you mean by "how to get the bolt released"? Do you mean "how to get the bolt out of the action?" That is very simple...lift the bolt handle and pull it back, while holding the trigger either all the way forward or all the way back (can't recall which right now). If you get the bolt too far open before moving the trigger into its release position, it won't release the bolt and you'll have to move the bolt all the way forward and try again.

That is a mistake I think Newton made with his rifle action. The bolt release is way too complex in ways which weren't needed. You'll see what I mean if you ever disassemble the bolt release.

This man is very knowledgeable on Newton rifles, Larry Wales, maybe these still work-

lswales@hughse.net
lswales@live.com

http://www.newtonrifles.com/

http://www.amazon.com/History-...d=1326984085&sr=1-11

He sends around a newsletter, etc, too.

Thanks, TinCan. I have Wale's book on Newtons (thanks to the generosity of Fla '06), but I didn't realize he actively does 'smithing work on them. Guess I'll have to check that out if no one closer is identified.

Thank you, Tin Can. I will e-mail Mr. Wales.

I don't know that Wales does bespoke gunwork- that's it, I dunno