Model 14 thumbnail safety

[nambujim]

Hey Farmoguy!

Ken Blauch is the "world authority" on the Model 14 and is a man of very precise but few words, I am hardly the latter and to that end will give you my opinion of your rifle.

On almost every one of my postings I try to convey to all that "no two Model 14's are identical" and have come to that conclusion after not only collecting them for many years but also based on those that have come into my shop for repair (I repair only the Model 14/141).

My opinion is that your rifle most likely exited the factory in its current configuration either by accident, by design, or perhaps to fill a special order. Remington was notorius for not discarding anything in an effort to keep costs down which resulted in countless variations and oddities of which I think yours is just one of those.

The fact that your rifle has a blank in where the crossbolt safety tips the scale in favor of it being assembled by the factory in that "the blank" requires a special "trigger spring rod" which is more rare than a TNS bolt (not that you couldn't make one) but unlikely.

According to my repair records I worked on one other rifle that had your configuration, it too was in the 70,000 serial range and this gun like a few others that I have repaired (and two that I own) have bolts with serial numbers stamped on the top, matching the gun. I might suggest that you check your bolt to see if maybe by chance it might be serialed to your upper & lower receiver.

Personally speaking I think the way Remington shuffled parts around, made continual improvements or modifications, and had numerous factory options makes almost every one of these rifles/carbines unique. If by chance you would prefer to have your rifle put into a more standard configuration (non TNS bolt and crossbolt safety) I would be glad to convert it for you at no cost while retaining the "odd" parts if you get my drift......LOL!!!

Hope this was helpful!

Best regards!

Jim