+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17

Thread: Mystery No4 MkI.

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last On
    03-08-2024 @ 11:09 PM
    Location
    Suwanee, Ga.
    Posts
    1,491
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:42 AM

    Mystery No4 MkI.

    Picked up a No 4 today that kind of has me baffled. The electro pencilling claims it is a Fazackerly manufactured rifle made in June of '43, but the pencilling looks, well, funny. The markings on the receiver and bolt are nothing that Ive ever seen before. There is an F R and what looks like a little boat or anchor above it. I am stumped on this one. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!Attachment 27702Attachment 27701Attachment 27700Attachment 27699Attachment 27698Attachment 27697Attachment 27696Attachment 27695Attachment 27694
    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.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last On
    03-08-2024 @ 11:09 PM
    Location
    Suwanee, Ga.
    Posts
    1,491
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:42 AM
    Thread Starter
    Ok, have discovered that the odd mark on the receiver and bolt handle are London proof marks, I believe the FR is probably Factory Repair. But still wondering about the little 'boat' above it, if that is in fact what it is. Electro pencil number on bolt matches number on butt socket, although yo can barely see it in the photo. Puzzled by the other number under bolt handle.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Advisory Panel

    jmoore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    06-09-2023 @ 04:20 AM
    Location
    US of A
    Posts
    7,066
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:42 AM
    The electro pencil looks normal for a rifle of this time period.

    The "28" under the bolt handle may be the inspector's number of the person who placed the crossed pennants adjacent.

    ---------- Post added at 02:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:26 AM ----------



    ---------- Post added at 02:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:36 AM ----------





    ---------- Post added at 02:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:38 AM ----------

    Image hosting, free photo sharing video sharing at Photobucket

    All of the photos of the above rifle are linked above.

    Ooh! Welded charger bridge on yours as well! As you have an "A" suffix rifle, I need to cross link it to my old thread. It may be a while, as this computer is not well equipped to do anything but basic stuff. Can't even thank you for the photos (except by typing it out like this...)

  6. #4
    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last On
    03-08-2024 @ 11:09 PM
    Location
    Suwanee, Ga.
    Posts
    1,491
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:42 AM
    Thread Starter
    Jmoore, what's the significance of a welded charger bridge? I'm mainly into MkIII's, and have not owned a great deal of No 4s. Any ideas as to the 4s stamped all over the receiver? This rifle has a DC prefix, but darned if I can see the A suffix you are seeing, your eyes are obviously better than mine! Another interesting note, the mag has an SMC marked follower, Singer obviously, but have only seen that mark on peddle schemes. Not that someone couldn't have put that in as a replacement. Rather glossy black paint on it, with olive drab paint below it. Thanks for looking!

  7. #5
    Advisory Panel Thunderbox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Last On
    01-10-2022 @ 02:07 PM
    Posts
    1,150
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:42 PM
    These are just well-used Fazakerleys that were part of the huge surplus stocks in UKicon in the 50s-70s.

    Re: many threads on the "FR" subject: my own personal theory is that "FR" is the mark of a UK surplus agent that bought in large numbers of rifles and spares on behalf of Pakistan - it might even be the mark of a Pakistan buying commission. Lots of these rifles evidently never left UK, and seem to have ended up on the US and UK civilian markets. Most of the rifles appear to be Savages, or have been restocked with savage wood.

    I expect that the electro-pencil marks under the bolts were done at the time these rifles were checked by whoever/whatever "FR" was.

  8. #6
    Advisory Panel

    jmoore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    06-09-2023 @ 04:20 AM
    Location
    US of A
    Posts
    7,066
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:42 AM
    My Fazackery isn't hardly used at all! Electro pencil marks are still in the white.
    Wood may have been scrubbed, but It was likely done after arrival in the US.

    Anzac 15, your serial number definitely ends with an "A". It shows well in the photo with the safety in the center of the shot(when enlarged at any rate).


    Link to the controversial "A" suffix thread:

    "...actively sought out and destroyed..." 'A' Suffix No.4 Rifles
    Last edited by jmoore; 10-25-2011 at 08:32 AM.

  9. #7
    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last On
    03-08-2024 @ 11:09 PM
    Location
    Suwanee, Ga.
    Posts
    1,491
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:42 AM
    Thread Starter
    Thunderbox, interesting about the FR! Now if I can just figure out what the little 'boat' or whatever it is, is. Jmoore, I saw the A suffix right after I read your post, it's very faint, but it's there alright. I understand that meant that the rifle was fitted with 'nonstandard' parts, or something along those lines? Also, you mentioned the welded charger bridge..is that a good feature? Rare?
    That's why I love these things, history in your hands!

  10. #8
    Advisory Panel Thunderbox's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Last On
    01-10-2022 @ 02:07 PM
    Posts
    1,150
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:42 PM
    I think your "little boat" mark is just a scar in the wood thats been filled. In fact it looks like the impression of a screw head from when the rifles were probably stacked on a pallet at some stage.

  11. Thank You to Thunderbox For This Useful Post:


  12. #9
    Advisory Panel

    jmoore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    06-09-2023 @ 04:20 AM
    Location
    US of A
    Posts
    7,066
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:42 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Anzac15 View Post
    Jmoore, what's the significance of a welded charger bridge?
    On any other No.4, it's mostly likely a repair. But Fazackerly seems to have make it a production shortcut. If it has no faint outlines of a dowel pin on the top extremities of the charger bridge, then it was likely made that way. My theory is that's a reason many Wartime Fazackerlys have the "A", because that's not a standard feature, otherwise. The hunt now is to find a WWII vintage Fazackerly with either a "factory" welded bridge but no "A", or an "A" suffix rifle without the welded at manufacture bridge.


    Quote Originally Posted by Anzac15 View Post
    Any ideas as to the 4s stamped all over the receiver?
    Nope!
    Last edited by jmoore; 10-25-2011 at 08:47 AM.

  13. #10
    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last On
    03-08-2024 @ 11:09 PM
    Location
    Suwanee, Ga.
    Posts
    1,491
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:42 AM
    Thread Starter
    Ha, ha! I swear, it looks like someone at Fazackerly got really bored and just started stamping 4s all over it!

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Mystery BFA
    By Roscoe Snyder in forum M16A2/AR15A2 Rifles
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 08-02-2013, 01:08 PM
  2. Mystery BFA
    By Roscoe Snyder in forum Vintage Military Gear
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 08-10-2011, 08:02 PM
  3. My Mystery Gun ... help ID?
    By paulm in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 11-12-2010, 08:06 PM
  4. Mystery marking
    By dsketcher in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-11-2010, 04:11 AM
  5. My 88 mystery
    By burpgun in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 07-05-2009, 01:46 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks