Anyone familiar with P-17 safety issues?

[Robert]

I have two made by Remington that both have the same manucacturing problem that the more modern Remington Rifles were recalled for. I must take the safety OFF before working the bolt to either chamber a round, or to remove a loaded round.  When I take the bolt outand put the safety on...I can see a small spur that comes up to lock the bolt in place.  Can I just file this spur off the safety to make these rifles function like a modern rifle and not have to take the safety off to work the bolt?  It does not seem that the spur that engages and locks the bolt has anything at all to do with the locked trigger.  But of course, I am asking before I take a file to anything on my rifles and will research it properly.  I guess it is time for me to stop being ingnorant and familiarize myself better with these old beauties.

[Judson]

I dearly love the big P-14, P-17 actions.    They are very under ratted and with a bit of work can be made very nice, reminiscent of the Remington mod. 720.    They will also swallow up big cartridges like the .416 Rigby with ease.     However as you know the safety locks the bolt.    DO NOT cut that plunger off!!!!   If you do you may be able to open the bolt but when you close it the firing piece will be held by the safety much further then it should be, like .250 off the sear.    When the safety is removed in this condition the rifle will in all probability fire.

[Shorty]

Robert,
You are confusing a fireing pin block safety with a trigger block safety.  For sheer safety, I'll take the former, as the P14/M1917.  Of course the safety cannot be on while cycling the action, but these were made for fighting, not for product liability lawyers!  It ain't broke; don't "fix" it!    :-)

[gunnut69]

The safety on a Remington m700 locks the trigger and an extension of the safety plate locks the bolt down.  The safety on a 1917 Enfield extends into the cocking piece and blocks it's motion much as does the safety on a M70 Winchester.  Because the safety lever is located in the housing at the rear of the action and locks the striker back(located in the bolt), it also locks the bolts movement.  This is not a big safety issue. Simply always follow the first rule of firearms safety, never point any gun in an unsafe direction..  There is no way to alter this safety to allow the bolt to operate with the safety engaged.  The accidents that have happened with Remington rifles are sad indeed but the failure is as usual of a human nature.  The rifle had to be pointed at someone for an injury to occur.  No safety is fool proof.  I too find the big enfields to be great action.  The safety is very possitive and the actions typically well built.  I have one built as a 300 WinMag that I am especially fond of. It never fails and if I'd have had it this fall I'd have another great mount of the wall.  If those old rifles are still military I'd think long and hard about altering them.  Prices have started to really take off on the enfields...  Below is a link to an exploded drawing of the 1917 Enfield..  Good luck!!

http://stevespages.com/ipb-enfield-us1917.html