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?

There is a tiny retaining pin for the safety lever. Yours, fell out. Or some "gunsmith/maker" failed to install it.

Little troublesome, but a modified set screw...If I remember a 3 x 56 works well

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!!

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.

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.

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

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!

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.