The Bolt Action Rifle
In 1836, Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse introduced the first successful bolt action rifle, the needle rifle, using paper cartridges. By the mid 1850s, bolt action rifles using metallic, centerfire cartridges were introduced. These, in turn, lead to iconic designs like the 1891 Mosin Nagant, the Lee-Enfield, Mauser bolt actions, and the 1903 Springfield. Among their many advantages, bolt actions tend to be strong, reliable, fast to operate, and easily-maintained.
Cleaning the Bolt
Over the course of time, a combination of lint, powder and primer residue, dirt, oil, and condensation can collect in the interior of a rifle bolt. When enough of this gunk collects, it can impede the forward motion of the firing pin, particularly under cold weather conditions. This can prevent the rifle from firing when the trigger is pulled.
To avoid this malfunction, the bolt should periodically be disassembled and cleaned. With most Mauser, Remington, Springfield 1903, Winchester, and similar bolt action rifles, the bolt can be effectively disassembled and cleaned by the owner. Some other brands, like Savage, tend to be more complicated, and may require the attention of a gunsmith.
My first experience with disassembling and cleaning a rifle bolt came when I acquired an M1893 Spanish Mauser. My experience may be a fairly typical representation of what is involved in this process.
The M1893-SeRies Spanish Mauser
I had always wanted to own a bolt action rifle, but had somehow never gotten around to it until recently. With the help of the Elk Creek Company, I acquired a Mauser Model M1893. I have been having great fun testing the rifle, and plan to submit a more extensive range report to SurvivalBlog in the near future.
As I was familiarizing myself with the rifle, I noticed that the safety was quite difficult to operate. I wondered if this might be due to dirt and other grit that had collected inside of the bolt body. With that in mind, I searched the Internet for information on how to disassemble and clean the bolt of a Model 1893-94-95-96 Mauser. The same instructions apply to Model 1916 Spanish Mausers. I found several very helpful YouTube videos:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKSP1wMBQG0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3baq94M4BeE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nDO-3Pj23Y
Continue reading“Cleaning Mauser Rifle Bolts, by The Novice”

