Thread: Closing the bolt...fire a cartridge?

A properly designed rifle should not let the firing pin protrude from the bolt face when the bolt handle is lifted. That is to protect against for example the trigger catching on something while the shooter moves the bolt forwards and it discharges with the bolt unlocked -- consequences imaginable. Even a 120-year old SMLE won't do that.

But what it will do once the bolt handle is down, all bets are off there.