No2 MkIV* Rifle

[Buccaneer]

The markings on the right hand side of the butt socket indicate that this rifle started life at the Birmingham Sparkbrook factory in 1893 and was built as a "MAGAZINE LEE-METFORD RIFLE MkII". It then returned to Enfield and was converted to a Sht L.E. CONd. IV in 1907.
Where it's final conversion to .22 SHORT RIFLE Mk IV (RIFLE No.2 Mk IV*) was done is not certain as it is not marked, but I assume that it was probably done in Australia as it has a solid barrel and both the magazine and the bolt head are marked .22 and .22 No2 respectively.
The Stock carries the marks of the C.M.F. (Citizen Military Forces) and 3.M.D. (3rd Military District, Southern Command Victoria). According to "Skennerton" these rifles were still being converted in the 1950,s by armourers rather than at SAF Lithgow which could explain the lack of a factory ID.
The origional marks on the right hand butt socket are intact and have not been altered in any way, however the 1907 Sht LE marks have been barred out but only partly, whoever did the conversion to .22 struck No 2 over the barred out Sht LE marks but left the CONd IV intact only adding a * to indicate that a magazine had been fitted, this would indicate that the conversion was done after 1925. The marks now read No2 CONd IV*, there is also another quirk to this rifle, at some time it has seen service with the Navy as there is a letter N on the left butt socket , looking at the style of the font used it looks as though it was in Naval use when it was in it's Sht LE guise.
Its curret serial number is E1300, it has been applied over a barred out 7050 there is a third barred out number on the action which looks like 0118.
On the forend just behind the piling swivil lugs are the numbers 4557 with an H under, this has been barred out. below that and also barred out is the number 7050 and below that is the current number 1300 over E.
It seems strange that the numbers on the charger bridge and the forend do not exactly match.
The 10/19 number on the butt I assume is for some sort of accounting, the number 507 is also stamped on the butt but what that means is anybodies guess.
All of the above are my own interpretations of what is on the rifle if any one has a different take on what is there please feel free to correct me...
I can understand the lure of a new rifle all rapped in cosmo but a rifle like this has history, it asks so many questions I think I take history every time

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Nice example of the facinating No2 Mk IV. Thanks for sharing. My No 2 and No 5s are competing for my favorite Enfields in my collection.

[bigduke6]

The Enfield has to be the most geenest/recycleable rifle of all time, considering the conversions upgrades etc, and the last part of there lives end up as .22 trainers or DP rifles.

[muffett.2008]

That is one tattoo'd old lady. The .22 stamp is on the wrong side of the mag. but that's life.
She certainly is a parts bitzer, but I have one unmarked thats also like that. No tattoo's though.

[Mk VII]

1935 barrel, plus the usual British proof marks.

[Simon P]

Great looking rifle with an interesting past......

[Homer]

That is one tattoo'd old lady. The .22 stamp is on the wrong side of the mag. but that's life.
She certainly is a parts bitzer, but I have one unmarked thats also like that. No tattoo's though.

I didn't know there was a right side for the stamp. Mine are all wrong then as well.

Nice gun Buccaneer and really nice photo's.

[muffett.2008]

I didn't know there was a right side for the stamp. Mine are all wrong then as well.

Nice gun Buccaneer and really nice photo's.

Homer, reference List of changes...31st may 1926.... Cases to be stamped '.22 ' on left side, to enable ready identification of the magazine case.
If my memory serves me correctly these were to be done with 1/4 in. stamps? someone else may have that info. at hand, mine is in use elsewhere at the moment.
A reference to this can be found in Skennerton's TLE page 287 para.4

[Homer]

Like I said muffer. Mine must be all wrong

[Buccaneer]

I have just looked at the photo's again and realised that the "507" that appears on the stock is also on the reciever ring but literally crossed out, it's funny that sometimes you can't see what is right in front of you... Could this be the serial number from it's first incarnation as a Mag Lee- Metford? but that still leave the 4557 over H on the forend un accounted for, I guess that might have come from a different rifle when it was converted to an SMLE... So many questions.