Early No.4 MKI (T) from Maltby Arsenal?

[jimmieZ]

I have an unusual No.4 rifle. It's a 1941 Maltby and has the scope bracket mounting pads correctly mounted. By correct I mean the receiver was correctly machined to align the 2 pads with the bore ( the front pad is recessed into the receiver probably 10 to 20 mils with the correct profile to match the pad). additionally, from what I can discern from reviewing info on these boards (and Ian Skennerton / Peter Laidler reference book) the pads and screws are original period parts and the pads are soldered to the receiver (it also appears the solder is securing the mounting screws as well - they cannot be tightened or loosened). Is it possible this was a "trials rifle"? The receiver is marked "England" on the top of the forward receiver (ahead of the bolt) and has 2 other acceptance stamps - one appears to be for Malaysia and the other for Indonesia. Any help on determining exactly what I have would be greatly appreciated. This rifle has been arsenal rebuilt and there are no import markings anywhere on it. It does not have the normal "T" stamping or the "TR" markings.

Thanks
Jim

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.

[Ridolpho]

jimmieZ: The experts here are going to ask for photos so I'll save them the trouble by pointing you to the excellent image uploading function which is described in the "sticky threads". Really works well- if you can save an image on your harddrive you can upload it easily. Look forward to seeing some shots of your rifle. Note that there's also a detailed description of a "Trials T" in the library on the forum. By its date of manufacture yours cannot be a "Trials" rifle.

Ridolpho

[Beerhunter]

Is it possible this was a "trials rifle"?

The trials rifles were all Enfield production.

[jmoore]

It's an early Maltby (T). Sort of scarce. I have one without scope, partly for it's early Maltby-ness, partly for it's "T-ness".



94 photos of it, but not one overall shot...

There should be an old thread on this rifle, but I'm just passing through.

[Robert303]

I saw a rifle at Bisly on the 20th October. The mount was marked as Maltby Research and it had a Number 53 scope on it. Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me and was too busy to take notes. I believe Dr Payne saw the rifle while it was on the stand. It was for sale at around £2600.

[Roger Payne]

Hi Jimmie. I am entirely in agreement with JM (as usual!) in that what you have is likely to be an early run of production rifle rather than a Trials rifle (which were all built on 1930's Enfield produced pre-production weapons). As was mentioned above though, a few pix would be nice if you can manage it.

Hi Robert,
Yes I saw the Maltby rifle at The Trafalgar show. I would not want to say too much in case I offend the owner, who may have bought it in good faith........(& it would only be my opinion anyway).

ATB

[jmoore]

All that was found so far about the early Maltby (T) on the forum is this rather tangential thread:

Double thick No.4 Barrel Bands

Which had somehow lost it's photos. (Mine at any rate.) Fixed that, but now out of time. Will look forward to photos of yours, jimmieZ, but it'll be 00:30 local time Monday before I return.

[Peter Laidler]

A No4T with a No53 telescope on it eh! That'd present two questions. The first is how did he get the telescope into the mount and the second, I'd be asking - and asking until I got an answer - was just how on earth did he zero it to the rifle.

I'm of the old school of hard knocks here in that it'd be worth asking/telling the owner of his plight or folly, depending on your point of view, even if it was just so that he could go beck to the seller and get his dosh back at the earliest opportunity!

[Brit plumber]

I.......The receiver is marked "England" on the top of the forward receiver (ahead of the bolt) and has 2 other acceptance stamps - one appears to be for Malaysia and the other for Indonesia. Any help on determining exactly what I have would be greatly appreciated. This rifle has been arsenal rebuilt and there are no import markings anywhere on it......

Isn't the England marking a import mark? it isnt original to the rifle.

[Beerhunter]

Isn't the England marking a import mark? it isnt original to the rifle.

Yes. Country of origin was a requirement of the US authorities at the time, that is to say prior to the 1968 GCA.