Another Enfield

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GunnyUSMC

GunnyUSMC

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On my way home from work I stopped of at one of the local pawn shops to pick up some AR lowers I had ordered.
While I was there I took a look at what was on the rack. I spotted in the corner of the rack what looked like a sling for a M1A1, but it didn't look just right. Then I noticed that it was attached an Enfield. It was a No4 Mk1 that was refurbished in 12/48.
The SN# on the action and magazine matched, but the bolt did not. The bolt is Savage marked with a Savage No2 bolt head. The bore was bright.
The tag was marked $299.99 I asked if they could work on the price and was told that I could have it for $250 out the door. We shot the bull a little more and the price came down to $240 out the door. I told him I would take it.
While they were looking up the copy of my C&R NICS came back up and I was able to pick up my AR lowers also.
Oh! they even threw in a box of WCC 81 303 ammo. :D

Enfield No4 Mk1 12/48

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That mark around the broad arrow means that it saw duty with the Aussies. I have a No 4 Mk 1 that was made in Birmingham England in 1944 and was never re-arsenaled. All numbers match on it even the magazine. Was lucky to get a reproduction sling for it that was also marked 1944.
 
Lucky you, a '48 Faz, with a Savage/Stevens bolt. May be the best of both worlds. The last o the No4Mk1 series with a post-war barrel. What's not to like? You might want to search around for a Faz bolt to restore the gun to original configuration but can shoot it in the mean-time. The button-head striker is 1942, and worth a bit in trade so don't let it go for pennies.
 
Yes I would say that I got pretty lucky on this one.
I have a few more Enfield and two of them are Savages. One started off as a barreles action. It was rebarreled post war and the SN# was stamped on the new barrel. I was lucky. A guy up in Cananda contacted me when I posted on restoring it. He had the rifle's original bolt. $50 later I had the original bolt.
 
Yes that is a South African U and Arrow. The reciever know looks "scrubbed", but I have most of the same markings on my '43 Savage. Very nice. The cocking piece is the real old style from the early #4's, put on during the FTR from spares. Very good price foe a sweet looking rifle.
 
I thought it might have been a D that the back line didn't get stamped well. I have an Enfield Mk VI revolver with the D and broad arrow, and I was told that was an Aussie mark.
 
Check the headspace on that rifle. The headspace on these guns can be quite generous and if somebody just threw that Savage bolt on that gun, it might be a bit too generous.
Just my 2 cents.
 
Mesmerized another seller, this time for the strong right arm of the empire the sun never set on. And ammo. 240 bucks. Does the grocery store just give you boudin in the mornings?
 
isn't that a cocking piece from a number 1 bolt? I've never seen a number 4 with a round cocking piece.
 
351 WINCHESTER said:
The cocking piece is from an early Savage.
Click to expand...
Yep. My 1942 40C Savage No. 4 Mk. I (not I*) has the round cocking piece. It's also stamped U.S. PROPERTY, has the Ordinance Bomb on the right strap and the Broad Arrow on the top of the receiver.
 
Great rifle, one of the best, and good photos too, a well done thread, thanks.
 
The Enfield pictured as an 'Aussie" no4 Mk1 is an early Brit refurb, the (f) is for Fazackerly (Liverpool UK) also, the Aussies never used the No4 in any guise, they did receive 2000 that were en-route for the Dutch East Indies ( Indonesia) but were diverted to Australia because of the Japanese invasion, these 2000 were stored in Queensland and it was my sad duty to destroy them in 1981, all were new cond complete with bayonet, cleaning tin and sling, rather sad to do that to some fine old rifles. The Aussies always used the SMLE , from the UK up to 1912, then made their own 1914 to 1954.

Kaeto is correct that the "D broad-arrow D" mark indicates Australian use. hope this helps

Col
 
As noted before, this rifle was South African issue (the broad arrow within a "U" stands for "Union of South Africa"). The "IAC" import mark is for "International Armaments Corporation," Sam Cummings' company. He imported a bunch of Enfields from South Africa, some of which had seen almost no use. I have a Savage-made one with the same South African and IAC markings.

(As a general rule, the North American No. 4's -- Savage and Long Branch -- are better quality than the British-made ones.)

Before you shoot it, check (a) the headspace, and (b) the bedding of the forestock, especially in the "draws" area. I've found that there is often shrinkage of the wood, so that the fit is no longer tight there. If movement is possible, you're going to get a split stock (and, of course, no accuracy out of the rifle). This is more of a problem with the substitute woods, such as what you have, than it is with walnut.

I once had a Lithgow-made Mark III Enfield. The Australian coachwood stock split in the way that I described, despite the fact that the Australians had put brass reinforcements in the draws area.
 
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