Need Help Identifying a No.4 Mk2

[728shooter]

Hello to all from a relative "newbie" here! I need some help in identifying what I just brought home.

Just purchased a new (to me!) Enfield No.4 Mk2. Overall, in very nice condition, possibly considered excellent condition. But the markings on this rifle have me puzzled. Left side of the receiver is stamped "No.4 Mk2".... but nothing else is there. No factory stamp, such as (ROF), no proof marks, and particularly, no date stamp (anywhere!) Left side of receiver/wrist band has a serial number stamped there (P F 307002) but nothing else. All other s/n marks match; on the bolt, forend and even the magazine. I can see a few very small broad-arrow marks on the stock and bolt, but no British proof marks anywhere as typically found on all other Enfields I have seen. Where one would typically find proof marks, dates and ser. nos. on the barrel/receiver, it looks like the metal was ground down & painted matte-black to match the rest of the rifle. The serial number prefix (PF) puts it in the Mk2 range but it is a pre-Irish contract s/n

I can also see what appears to be faint numbers on the stock, 49 at the wrist and a "50" on the butt-stock. 1949 or 1950 manufacture perhaps? This rifle does not have any import marks. Also, the stock finish is rather "shiny" as if coated with a varnish or some similar finish -- is that common with the later Mk2's? It appears that whenever this stock was re-finished, any dings or dents were also covered with the same coating. Does this sound like a non-arsenal re-finish by a previous owner or an arsenal re-finish on a used stock? Also, the bore is mirror-shiny, looks brand new, could possibly pass as un-fired.

Appreciate any and all help with this rifle. Will try and post pictures when I find my camera and figure out how to attach them to this post.

Thanks to all, --728shooter

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.

[Frederick303]

Is there a stock disc on the buttstock?

---------- Post added at 10:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 PM ----------

also if you remove the rear hand guard, what markings do you see on the barrel, and are any of the marking peened out?

[303tom]

Pictures would help !...................

[ssj]

You need to look at each part, there will often be a Fxx about 3mm ~1/8inch high on it somewhere. For the receiver underneath the RHS could well be a F49 or similar to say when it was made. The trigger guard for one should be stamped, front sight protector, bolt body, top of magazine follower, oh and on the barrel. PF307xxxx well, from my notes - "PF 304048 to PF 309347 N/Known" So the more info you can provide the more we'll know what happened to them or who got those. Made in 51 or 52 probably.

Pictures help a lot. It shouldnt be shiny if so it has been refinished.

[728shooter]

Is there a stock disc on the buttstock?

---------- Post added at 10:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 PM ----------

also if you remove the rear hand guard, what markings do you see on the barrel, and are any of the marking peened out?

Frederick303, Thank You very much for the suggestion. I did remove the hand guard and was able to find the proof marks, along with some other stamped marks, and also saw the stamp "F 53". I assume that this means it was made (or at least the barrel was made) in 1953. All of the markings appear to be original stampings with nothing "peened" out.

As for a stock disc on the butt stock, there is none, however, I see a dime-sized circle stamped on the right side, with a small broad arrow in the middle and some numbers (hard to read) above & below the arrow. Will try and take photos this weekend. Looks like I'll be taking this one all apart to strip off all the shiny finish and try and restore it with an original-type oil finish.

Thanks again -- 728shooter

---------- Post added at 12:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

You need to look at each part, there will often be a Fxx about 3mm ~1/8inch high on it somewhere. For the receiver underneath the RHS could well be a F49 or similar to say when it was made. The trigger guard for one should be stamped, front sight protector, bolt body, top of magazine follower, oh and on the barrel. PF307xxxx well, from my notes - "PF 304048 to PF 309347 N/Known" So the more info you can provide the more we'll know what happened to them or who got those. Made in 51 or 52 probably.

Pictures help a lot. It shouldnt be shiny if so it has been refinished.

ssj, Thank You for the reply. Looks like its a 1953 (F 53) date on the barrel, has a few more stamping that I can't make out, will probably need your expertise in identifying them. Was the original finish on these a linseed oil finish or was there something different they used back then?

Thanks! --728shooter

[Frederick303]

Indian rework. The stamp will have the broad arrow and T ^W or S^I with an A over the board arrow. There might be second stamp that comes out with linseed oil with a figure of 501 to 512, which is the rebuild depot. and the date below such as 4-73 which would indicate April of 1973.

The Indian rebuilds seem to have variations based on when done. The 1960s guns seem to be re-marked and blued and done at RFI, whereas the 1970s rebuilds seem to have the marking removed and a paint finish over parked or bare metal and were done at various depots with marks between 501 to 512.

[ssj]

The barrel could have been replaced, but it could be a 53 gun. You want to take off the stock and look under the receiver and indeed note all the Fxx's you can find. Need pics.

Yes, linseed oil, but the metal finish changed.

[728shooter]

Going to try and attach some pictures.....

[Frederick303]

Yup, it is an Indian depot repair, 50x depot in 7 -68(?) someone sanded it down prior to coating the stock.

[Peter Laidler]

Looks like hand stamped No4 Mk2 to me too........