Mauser bolt is stuck

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Pavana

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Folks, I have an 1893 7mm Mauser carbine with a hung-up bolt. It's currently out of the rifle with the safety in the left (off) position. Because it's stuck in this position, I can't replace the bolt fully into the receiver. Can someone tell me how to disassemble the bolt in this position or perhaps direct me to a previous post that could instruct me on how to do this?
 
Grasp the bolt face end really tight and lift the bolt handle to reset the the firing pin...like cocking the bolt.
 
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Grasp the bolt face end really tight and lift the bolt handle to reset the the firing pin...like cocking the bolt.
Click to expand...

Right concept, wrong end. The bolt face is the front of the bolt, and is one solid piece with the bolt handle. IT does not, and cannot move in relation to the bolt handle. Also, the Mauser 93/95s are cock on closing actions. Lifting the bolt handle DOES NOT cock the bolt.

It is the other end of the bolt assembly that moves, The cocking piece, and bolt shroud. Recocking a Mauser bolt is not complicated, but may seem to require 3 or 4 hands and no small amount of hand strength. IT doesn't, if you understand what you need to do.

It's currently out of the rifle with the safety in the left (off) position. Because it's stuck in this position, I can't replace the bolt fully into the receiver.
Click to expand...

Before we get too far into explanations, we need to be on the same page regarding terms.

How far into the action does the bolt go when you try to replace it?? Does it just go into the rear of the action then stop? OR does it go nearly all the way closed, then stop, about an inch short of fully shut??

The safety is in the off position, and it seems "stuck" in the off position, because the bolt is not cocked and the safety cannot be moved to the "on" position unless the bolt is cocked. And a cock on closing action (which the 93 is) can have the bolt reinstalled when it is not cocked.

You haven't disassembled or partially disassembled the bolt, have you??

The bolt shround (the part that holds the safety) should be screwed all the way up against the rear of the bolt body (the end behind the bolt handle).

Look at the bolt from the rear, the "axle" of the safety (where it goes into the bolt shroud, the bottom "end" of the wing) should be lined up with the bolt handle. This is the correct position.

At this point, look at the front of the bolt and make sure the extractor is over the right locking lug. IF not, rotate it there (by hand) otherwise the bolt won't go into the back of the action.

Now insert the bolt into the action. It should go in, and then stop when it hits the back end of the magazine follower. Military Mausers have a square shoulder on the back of the magazine follower, intentionally designed to lock the action open when empty. This is so that, in the heat of battle, the rifle locks open when empty, telling the soldier it is empty.

Push the magazine follower down a little and slide the bolt forward over the follower. The bolt will go nearly all the way closed, then stop, again.

This is also intentional, and the way the gun works. The "stop" with the bolt nearly shut is the sear (on the cocking piece) catching on the trigger. Either push the bolt handle all the way forward, (compressing the firing pin spring, cocking the rifle) and turn the bolt handle down and the rifle is cocked, locked shut and ready to fire. You will have to push against the tension of the firing pin spring and hold the bolt shut until you can turn the handle down and lock it shut.

OR when the bolt stops nearly shut, simply pull the trigger (hold it back) and push the bolt shut, turning the bolt handle down to lock the action closed without it being cocked. At this point, the action is closed and the gun is not cocked.

Disassembling the bolt assembly for cleaning is simple, PROVIDED you start with the gun cocked and the safety "on" in the middle position (wing straight up). With the safey ON (straight up) simply remove the bolt and the entire firing mechanism will unscrew from the bolt body as a single unit, allowing you to clean and oil it as needed.

DO NOT turn the safety OFF!!!!! This will make screwing the firing pin assemly back into the bolt body complicated. Do not disassemble the frining pin mechanism, unless you need to!

IF you need to, I can tell you how, but lets get your assembled bolt back into the rifle so you can take it out and put it back in easily, first.

I recommend you get a book that covers your rifle, one with pictures. Small Arms of the World (Smith & Smith) is a decent reference. IT is a massive reference that covers operating and field stripping of nearly all military small arms used since the 1890s. You don't need a new copy, and every old copy will cover your Mauser, and often the old editions are fairly cheap.

Hope this helps, and please let us know if it works, or if you have other issues.
 
Be careful about taking those apart. If you're not careful, the firing pin spring can drive the firing pin out of the bolt sleeve during disassembly with enough force to cause pretty serious injury.
 
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