SMLE Charger Bridge?

[Maplicito]

I just picked up two Lee Enfields at a gun show... one for me, and one I'll be holding for a buddy until he gets his firearms permit (I love being a Canadian, but the license requirement just sucks).

After getting them home, I noticed one of the two rifles was missing a piece... after some keyboard jockeying, I believe the piece is called a "charger bridge" or "loading bridge." As far as I can tell, the part is only important if you are loading the rifle with clips instead of just loading the magazine by hand. I just wanted to make sure this is correct, and that this piece didn't serve any more important function, such as adding strength to the rifle. I don't see how it COULD be a required piece for safe function of the rifle, but I'd rather ask a stupid question than make a stupid assumption.

So... I'm assuming the charger bridge is just cosmetic to someone not using clips - anyone particularly familiar with the SMLEs know if this is the case? Thanks in advance.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

I think it depends on which model Lee Enfield you have found.

I believe I read somewhere that some of the earliest Lee Enfields didn't come with a charger bridge. My memory could easily be faulty though, it's been a few years since I looked in on the subject.

I picked up a nice enough Ishapore 2A1 at a gunshow and didn't notice until I got it home that the charger bridge had been altered so that it would take a scope. It no longer had the indentations needed to retain the stripper clip and I was even thinking about milling the rest of it off completely.

Notice Here that the first two examples don't seem to have the charger bridge that's quite evident on the third.

 

[sniper5]

Actually, the charger bridge is held by peened rivets that are ground flush. They are barely visible on very close examination. They can be punched out but it's a bear. Charger bridges can be obtained from companies like e-gunparts and replaced, but again, it's a bear.

 

[Maplicito]

This one definitely had the charger bridge at one time - you can see where it used to be. If they are in no way a necessity for the gun though, I won't bother replacing it. Thanks for the answers guys.

 

[Coronach]

I would replace it, if possible. Reloading a Lee-Enfield is very fast and easy with chargers. It's not particularly hard to do without one, but it is * s * l * o * w *.

Mike

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Sniper5....thanks for that information, I'll give e-gunparts a try. Right now I have three 12-round magazines for my 2A1 but stripper clips would be much cheaper.

 

[Limeyfellow]

In the 50s-70s it was quite common to sporterise these surplus rifles and many alterations such as grinding out the charger bridge, shortening barrels and so on was quite common. It is likely thats what happened to this rifle. They would also remove the rear sights at time to put on a scope or after market sights. I suspect thats occurred here and they re-added the sight afterwards/

The rifle is designed for stripper clips. The magazines would be individually fitted to the rifle and when you stick them in a new rifle they occasionally need a little work to get them working properly.

 

[Maplicito]

Thanks for the responses guys... I probably won't bother with the charger bridge, but I'll check into it - even if I don't use stripper clips, it just doesn't look right without the bridge!

 

[Wheeler44]

On the earliest SMLEs half of the charging bridge was on the receiver the other half attached to the bolt. I'm not sure when they changed to the all on receiver bridge though.