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Sorry about my use of engineering terms and the resulting confusion. If you disassemble a Mauser bolt, you will find that the Cocking Piece (which engages the sear on the trigger assembly) is attached to the Striker (firing pin) by means of a series of Lugs (the Lugs are machined on to the rear of the Striker, six in all). The Lug that is closest to the middle of the Striker lies at the inward edge of the Cocking Piece. When the Striker/Cocking Piece assembly is under load from the Main Spring, as when the rifle is prepared to fire, there is upward pressure exerted on the Striker Assembly (resulting in a Bending Moment*): the maximum stress is found at the point where the Striker Assembly is least supported, i.e., where the end of the Cocking Piece lies. And that was the exact spot where my failure occurred.

If you will further examine a Mauser bolt assembly, you will find that the Striker has a flat section immediately behind the actual firing pin portion: that constitutes a lug that engages a machined area in the interior of the bolt when the striker is fully extended. This engagement prevents the bolt from rotating when the striker is fully forward. Just pressing the nose of the Striker (firing pin) back level with the Bolt Face is enough to unlock the bolt.

* Just Google "Bending Moment" for an explanation of this term.

Hope this clarifies the situation somewhat.

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