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December 8, 2024
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I just picked up a model 69A today from probably sometime in the 40’s
The bolt handle is a little loose. You can wiggle it back and forth. Is it attached by a screw somewhere inside the bolt workings? Is it a pressed fit?
It’s no big deal, everything works fine. It just bugs me, so if there is a way to tighten it, I would like to try.
Thanks
July 17, 2012
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Hi, Welcome to the WACA forum!
The bolt handle is threaded and screwed into the bolt sleeve. The early bolts were left-hand threads and the later bolts are right-hand threads. Once the bolt handle was screwed into position it was staked in place at the bolt sleeve square block on 2 sides. Early bolts were staked with a slightly dull center punch and later bolts were staked with a blunt chisel style punch. You can look at the base of the bolt handle and easily tell what type of stake punch was used on your bolt.
The repair is simply to put the handle back in the original position by rotating it and aligning the original punch marks and then re-staking it with the appropriate shaped punch. Make sure you support the opposite side of the bolt sleeve square block when staking each side. That solves the problem 99.99% of the time.
If you don’t feel comfortable performing that procedure you can take it to a Gunsmith and he will have it corrected in 5 minutes.
Again, welcome to the WACA forum!
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
December 8, 2024
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Thanks, I see what you mean. The punch or chisel marks are there and need to be deepened.
Wouldn’t a person have to heat the metal first before they struck it again?
July 17, 2012
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No, they were cold-formed and can be re-struck, I have successfully done it on at least a dozen rifles. Just make sure you use a somewhat blunt edge that will replicate the original stake mark and you will simply be pushing a little material back in place.
Again, if you don’t feel comfortable performing that procedure you can take it to a Gunsmith.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
