Matt from Classic Firearms is joined by Alex to continue a series on surplus rifles. They explain that Clint is away on Marine Corps drill, which is why he has been missing from recent videos. The discussion focuses on the different action types represented on the table: a cock-on-close Lee-Enfield, a traditional Mauser cock-on-open bolt action, and a Swiss straight-pull rifle. The goal is to compare how these surplus rifle actions work, how they feel in use, and why certain designs remained in service for so long. Both hosts note they are left-handed, which makes running right-handed bolt actions less ergonomic despite their interest in collecting and shooting them.
The Lee-Enfield is highlighted as a distinctive cock-on-close design. Lifting the bolt handle does not cock the firing pin; instead, the action cocks as the bolt is pushed forward and closed. This is described as more efficient biomechanically, allowing faster cycling once the shooter is accustomed to it. The rifle combines Lee’s detachable magazine system with Enfield-pattern rifling, hence the Lee-Enfield name. Its basic action pattern remained in service from the 1890s through the 1950s in numerous iterations, evolving from earlier Lee-Metford rifles. The hosts emphasize that the British Empire relied on this action for decades, and that its longevity suggests the design was both effective and trusted in service.
The Lee-Enfield’s 10-round magazine is noted as a major advantage over many contemporary bolt-action rifles, which typically used five-round magazines. Even in the Second World War, when the U.S. M1 Garand offered eight rounds, the Lee-Enfield still held ten. This higher capacity, combined with the fast cock-on-close action, gave soldiers a practical edge in sustained fire. The hosts reference the famous “mad minute,” a British training exercise measuring how many aimed shots could be delivered at a target around 120 yards within one minute, including reloading. The emphasis was on both speed and accuracy, not just volume of fire. The rifle’s long service life extended beyond front-line military use into prison systems, home guard units, and organizations such as the Canadian Royal Mounted Police, which reportedly retained them well after the 1950s.
Attention shifts to the Mauser, described as the basis for most modern bolt-action rifles. The Mauser action is characterized as extremely robust and reliable, using a cock-on-open system. When the bolt handle is lifted, the firing pin is cocked, which can be seen by the firing pin protruding at the rear of the bolt. After firing, opening the bolt again re-cocks the action. The hosts point out that Mauser actions have tight tolerances, contributing to reliability even in harsh conditions. This strength and dependability led to widespread adoption, and the Mauser pattern is cited as the foundation for many later designs, including the U.S. M1903 Springfield, which is based on the Mauser action even though it is not labeled as such.
The discussion covers how Mauser actions and many other bolt-action rifles offer second-strike capability. If a cartridge fails to fire, the shooter can keep the round in the chamber and re-cock the firing mechanism rather than immediately extracting it. On a Mauser, this can be done by manipulating the bolt; on rifles like the Lee-Enfield, Swiss straight pulls, and Mosins, the striker can often be manually pulled back for another attempt. This is presented as useful in muddy, bloody battlefield conditions where reliability is critical. The hosts list numerous Mauser variants and users: an Ethiopian FN Mauser on the table, as well as Siamese, Persian, Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, South American Mausers from countries like Peru and Chile, and many others across Africa and Europe. The design’s global spread underscores why the Mauser-style bolt action still predominates in modern bolt rifles.
The Swiss rifle is introduced as a straight-pull design rather than a traditional rotating bolt action. Instead of manually lifting and rotating the bolt handle, the shooter pulls straight back and pushes straight forward. A sleeve around the bolt contains camming grooves that automatically rotate and lock the bolt as it moves, maintaining a locked-breech system while converting linear motion into the necessary rotary motion. This is intended to make human biomechanics more efficient and potentially increase cycling speed. However, the hosts note that the force required to overcome the camming surfaces may limit any real-world speed advantage. Swiss rifles are praised for their precise machining and resulting accuracy. Because Switzerland did not fight trench warfare with these rifles, they generally avoided the mud and abuse seen by other surplus arms, so many surviving examples show excellent bluing and overall condition.
The hosts describe Swiss straight-pull rifles as popular in competition due to their long barrels, very light triggers, and crisp breaks, all of which support accurate shooting. The safety system is highlighted as particularly interesting and practical. At the rear of the bolt is a large, key-shaped striker ring. To place the rifle on safe, the shooter pulls this ring back and rotates it, locking the striker. Rotating it back returns the rifle to the fire position. The ring is large enough to be operated with gloved hands or grasped firmly, reflecting design considerations for cold-weather use in Switzerland. Overall, the Swiss straight-pull is portrayed as a mechanically sophisticated and user-friendly rifle that is enjoyable to shoot and well suited to precise marksmanship.
The specific Swiss rifle on the table is identified as a 96/11, meaning an original 1896 rifle updated to the 1911 pattern. One visible change is the addition of a pistol grip section grafted into what was originally a straight stock, improving ergonomics and control for the firing hand. This modification aligns the rifle with the later 1911-style stock profile. The hosts note that when the 1911 pattern was introduced, the Swiss also produced a shorter carbine version, and over time the trend moved toward issuing shorter rifles more broadly. The 96/11 thus represents a transitional design that combines earlier long-rifle characteristics with updated handling features, illustrating how the Swiss refined their straight-pull platform while maintaining its core mechanical principles.
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