(5)Page 74. Here I'll rely on my military experience as an armorer- but gunsmith I am NOT- "lifting the handle on the side of the action re-cocks the hammer- Two things I read here: (a) Not the hammer, but the striker- and (b) a minor observation, as this deals with the 1903 Springfield, which was based on the great Mauser Gewehr 98- both cock on opening, whereas the Limey designed Enfield bolt-actions cock on closing. No biggie.
Pre 1898 Mausers from the 1889 Belgian on also cocked on closing, don't recall about the older tube magazin 11mm ones.You are of course correct in the the striker is cocked, not the hammer. Other than the cocking on opening the 1903 Springfield actually has more features of the 1893 Spanish Mauser than of the 1898. The 1893 was of course th Mauser which gave us such a hard time on San Juan Hill & which forced the authorities to take another look at the outdated Krag.
