Lee Enfield Rifle

[Desdichado]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between a safety catch and a magazine cut-off? I always thought they were one and the same. The reason for my question is that I have come across an incident where a Tommy discharged his rifle accidentally when the cut-off was closed. If the cut-off wasn't designed as a safety mechanism, then what was its purpose?

Thanks - Des

[Tom A McCluskey]

Hi Des,

IAW Musketry Regs Part I, 1909 with 1914 Amendment, Page 104, Para 264.

Section 53 - Use of the Safety Catch and Cut-Off

Troops armed with rifles fitted with safety catches will invariably set the catch to safety before movement. The use of the cut-off is to be confined in their case to occasions when they are not actually engaged with the enemy, when it may be employed for the purpose of charging the magazine without inserting a cartridge in the chamber, or to unload the rifle while retaining cartridges in the magazine. It is never to be used to enable the rifle to be used as a single loader, and is not to supecede the safety catch.

Hope this helps

Aye

Tom McC

[Desdichado]

Hi Des,

IAW Musketry Regs Part I, 1909 with 1914 Amendment, Page 104, Para 264.

Section 53 - Use of the Safety Catch and Cut-Off

Troops armed with rifles fitted with safety catches will invariably set the catch to safety before movement. The use of the cut-off is to be confined in their case to occasions when they are not actually engaged with the enemy, when it may be employed for the purpose of charging the magazine without inserting a cartridge in the chamber, or to unload the rifle while retaining cartridges in the magazine. It is never to be used to enable the rifle to be used as a single loader, and is not to supeceded the safety catch.

Hope this helps

Aye

Tom McC

Cheers Tom,

That's what I needed.

Regards,

Des