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Pre 64 Winchester 70 Safety question

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29 April 2024, 18:33
bwanamrm
Pre 64 Winchester 70 Safety question
I just got back from South Africa and while there experienced something that has never happened to me before. On one of my custom rifles with a pre 64 action, the safety popped off when moving it to the fire position. I was able to complete the safari by keeping the chamber cleared until preparing to fire but it was disconcerting. I could put the safety lever back in the hole and make it fit but it would not re-engage. Simple fix for a gunsmith?


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
29 April 2024, 19:34
dpcd
There is a tiny retaining pin for the safety lever. Yours, fell out. Or some "gunsmith/maker" failed to install it.
29 April 2024, 20:55
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)
Little troublesome, but a modified set screw...If I remember a 3 x 56 works well
29 April 2024, 21:14
Atkinson
That retainer pin works, his is the only failure I know of!! very rare indeed and some smith got caught with his hand in the cookie jar!!


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
29 April 2024, 22:53
dpcd
That pin is not needed for operation, and there is a detent and spring that will hold it in place. Until it doesn't. And they can only come out one way; towards the outside.
I vote that a gunmaker forgot to install it.
30 April 2024, 21:15
GMyers
Some of the early pre-war bolt shrouds do not have the safety retaing pin. There is a flange that prevents the safety lever from coming out when in the safe position. Something similar happened to me with such an early rifle. Mine has a Tilden safety lever which does not have the flange. I fixed it by getting a later bolt shroud that has the retaing pin.
01 May 2024, 02:00
J Wisner
Only the first year of the M70 did not have the retaining cross pin of the safety lever
When I was making my version of the Tilden lever, I drilled MANY of those early sleeves for the retaining pin

About 25 years ago I started using a rolled split Stainless pin for the M70 safeties I was making
That solved several issues, and I have not had one of those roll pins back out

J Wisner
01 May 2024, 17:57
bwanamrm
Would any of you gentlemen allow me to send the bolt to you so it can be repaired or could you recommend someone in Texas to contact? I was thinking of taking it to Gordy and Sons in Houston...

Thanks!


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
01 May 2024, 19:48
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)
Gordy and sons can eaasily handle the problem. And...most shops would like the rifle complete just to make sure eveerything works the first time.

The M-70 has three pins that seldom move out of pisition,,,notice I did not say "NEVER"

1. The safety flag retainer p[in (menioned here)
2. The bolt sleeve lock retaininmg pin (Can move foreward and lock up the bolt)
3. The pivot pin for the ejector (can move, fall out and lock up the trigger)

I've encountred all of these from time to time.

Jim Wisner's solution of expanding pin (s) do take care of the problem.
22 May 2024, 19:02
bwanamrm
Just an update... sheared the retaining pin. Unusual but like the gunsmith at Gordy's said, it a 75 + year old pin, things happen. Should be good to go in a couple of days.


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.