[BamBam-31]

I've been holding out for a decent one for quite a while. Most of the Enfields around here look pretty tired. I finally settled on one at a show, an FTR-ed No. 4, Mk. 1.

I'm pretty happy with it. The bore is shiny, the rifling is pretty sharp. Very slight pitting--you have to look really hard. It's been refinished, so it looks great. Only thing is, the top corner of the buttstock has been repaired with a 2"x1" section from another stock. Armory did a clean job of it, though, and it looks to be very solid. $215, out the door.

Question: How do I find out some of the history behind the rifle? The serial number on the receiver, stock, and trigger assembly (?) is BK 12XXX. It's dated 1944. Is this a BSA?

I've been looking for websites with info, but I couldn't come up with much. Thanks in advance for any info.

:)

[Mike Irwin]

Mine has the same sort of repair, and it was made in India at Ishapore.

The factory that made it should be stamped on the stock ring (not the right name, but it's the junction between the forearm and the buttstock) along with year of manufacture.

[BamBam-31]

Thanks, Mike.

Immediately before the 1944, there's a somewhat stylized "M" stamped. It looks like a "Y" with two "I"-s attached. Then the BK 12XXX underneath.

What maker would that indicate?

[cratz2]

The website you want to visit is www.milsurpshooter.net They have several forums dedicated to each of the major battle rifles including the excellent Enfield.

Many of the stocks have been so repaired. My two Long Branches have solid stocks but my Ishapore (basically an Indian Enfield No 1 Mk III) has repairs top and bottom and the top repair is cracked. :D

Great guns. Hope you don't have an addictive personality or else you're going to end up with a lot of these things. ;)

[Mike Irwin]

BamBam,

Wow, I'm clueless. Never heard of a mark like that....

[BamBam-31]

Could the "M" mean Maltby?

Does anyone own a Maltby manufactured Enfield, and if so, does it have this stamping?

Come on. There's gotta be a Cruffler out there that knows....

[Kahr carrier]

Congrats on your new rifle.:)

[BamBam-31]

cratz2,

Thanks for the link. I logged on and asked at the Enfield forum (moderated by a very knowledgable kraut Michigan), and they informed me that my suspicions of it being a Maltby are correct.

Great site, BTW. Great, another time drain. Just what I need....:rolleyes: :D

[cratz2]

No problem. I feel reasonably well informed about the firearms which I generally stick with on most forums. Over there, I am sadly under educated. :(

[Jagermeister]

BamBam:
thought this might be some trivia you would like to have:

Lee Enfield, Lee-Metford, Remington Lee

AUSTRALIA:

Rifle #1 Sniper Rifle Mk3 Ht
Manufacture: Royal Austrian, Lithgow,
New South Wales
Year of Manufacture 1944-46
Quantity:
Action: #1 Mk3
Caliber: .303 Rimmed
Length: 44.56"
Weight: 10.30lb
Barrel Length: 25.19"
Grooves: 5 LH concentric
Magazine: 10 Box (detach)
M-Velocity: 2,440fps W/Mk-VII ball

TURN-BOLT PATTERNS:

Lee Burtons:

Developed in the USA, then perfected in the USA and Britain. These guns were service issue in Britain an the British Empire. They were also issued in many former colonies after independence had bee gained, India & Pakistan. Lee Enfield were also used in Irag and the Irish Free State, Eire, prior to 1939. Others were sold to Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, and turkey in the post 1945 era.

The first turn bolt design, with a single locking lug, sold in small numbers to factions in South and Central America. An improved two lug mechanism was then perfected in Britain, where the .303 Magazine Rifle MkI ) lee-Metford), was adopted for military service in 1888

Prior to 1939 the Australian forces were armed with standard SMLE Mks III and III* (No 1) MkIII and No 1 MkIII*) Rifles made in a government factory that had been established in Lithgow, New South Wales, 1n 1912. These guns were dated from 1913-1929, 1938-
1945, and 1953-1956.










BRITAIN

Indicators for year of manufacture:

V.R. (Victoria Regina) 1888-1901
E.R. (Edwardius Rex) 1901-1910
G.R. (Georgius Rex) 1910-1936
1936-1952
E.R. (Elizabeth Regina) 1952 to Date

Manufacturer Marks:

Roual Small Arms Factory Enfield Enfield (EFD)
Birmingham Small Arms B.S.A. & AM Co
London Small Arms L.S.A orL.S.A. Ltd
Vickers V.S.M.
Standard Small Arms S.S.A.
National Rifle Factory N.R.F.

S.M.L.E BRITISH
NO.1 Mark III Short Lee Enfield.
Adopted: 1907
Cal: .303
Length: 44.5"
Wt: 8.6lb
Action: Turnbolt
Bolt: 2 Piece non rotating head
Mag: Detach Bx. Stagg. Column
Capacity: 10 rnds
Bbl length: 25.2"
Bore Dia: 303"
Twist: Left
Rate: 10"

Basic British rifle of WWI and used to some extent in WWII. Over 2,000,000 made by Enfield. B.S.A. made over one million during the same period.

JM:D