No.4 Mk.1 ROF 1941 Early?

[Hambone]

I got this years back as part of a trade deal. There are no "England" or BNP/export stamps or import stamps. It has a tiny ".303 British" stamp on the receiver sidewall which I think would indicate import perhaps in the 60s? Wouldn't the serial put it rather early? Shouldn't it have an early micrometer sight? Any information is appreciated.
Cheers,
HB

Information

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[Hambone]

I apologize, I posted this here about 9 years ago. I had forgotten. It wasn't the same question though.

[Hambone]

Looking at the inspections on the wrist and fore-end, and rifle generally, are these factory original production parts or reworked? Thank you for help.
HB

[Lee Enfield]

your pictures don't show for me.

1941's were fitted with MkI (micrometer) or MkII (2 leaf flip) sights.

1941 was the first non trials production of the no4 mki.

some early 1941 actions were salvaged/never assembled no1mk6 & no4mkI trials rifles, later production were newly produced receivers assembled.

Remove the action from the stock before you say there are no commercial/import or export markings...

[Sunray]

I'd be thinking (and a very WHAG it is) that it was assembled by somebody Stateside. The BNP stuff dates from before the U.S. GCA of 1968 and the "tiny ".303 British" stamp" on the receiver wasn't done by anybody military.

[Lee Enfield]

I'd be thinking (and a very WHAG it is) that it was assembled by somebody Stateside. The BNP stuff dates from before the U.S. GCA of 1968 and the "tiny ".303 British" stamp" on the receiver wasn't done by anybody military.

"BNP" is a British COMMERCIAL proof marking for retail local British sale, it has nothing to do with the US GCA'68.

Military firearms are almost never "caliber marked", especially with a commercial designation: ie. ".303 British"

[Lee Enfield]

I got this years back as part of a trade deal. There are no "England" or BNP/export stamps or import stamps. It has a tiny ".303 British" stamp on the receiver sidewall which I think would indicate import perhaps in the 60s? Wouldn't the serial put it rather early? Shouldn't it have an early micrometer sight? Any information is appreciated.
Cheers,
HB
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https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=20741

Very nice early No4MkI which retains it's original fore-end.

Your rifle is roughly 20,000 in so probably a new manufactured receiver, rather than a salvaged one.

The ".303 British" is almost certainly a US import marking from the 90s to maybe early 2000s before the "Billboard" became a requirement.

I would speculate that the rest of the required import markings are lost within the rough machining.

Quite often British commercial "firing" proof marks are under the handguards.

[Brian Dick]

Lee Enfield is correct that the caliber stamp is a post 1968 U.S. import marking. Since Curio and Relic military surplus firearms were banned from importation to the USA until 1986, It's one of the rifles imported via Interarms in the late 80's, early 90's. The import marking is on the very bottom of the butt socket on the left side. Those rifles were purchased directly from reserve stores at Donnington and some of the nicest No.4's I'd seen up to that point. I still have a couple i stashed back then. One a '42 date Maltby that's very similar and near factory new condition.