Need help identifying my Lee Enfield No4 Mk2

[Freeway]

Can someone help me deciphering the markings on my Lee Enfield No4 Mk2?
Even after browsing this forum I am still unable to see what the markings stand for.
Your help is greatly appreciated. Here are some photographs.

Information

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[Freeway]

See below some more pictures

[browningautorifle]

The LB on the side of the sight is Canadian arsenal Long Branch...

[Freeway]

Thanks Jim! Does the 55 before the serial number indicate that the rifle was made in 1955?

[browningautorifle]

I believe that's correct... I wonder if this is an Irish contract rifle, there are lists of serial numbers here somewhere and guys that know for sure... Hang on, the rest will be here soon.

[Alan de Enfield]

'303 British' is an import mark so the 'furriners' knew what to feed it with
The F55 is Fazakerley 1955

Yes the 55 prior to the serial number is 1955

---------- Post added at 05:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:59 PM ----------

I believe that's correct... I wonder if this is an Irish contract rifle, there are lists of serial numbers here somewhere and guys that know for sure... Hang on, the rest will be here soon.

No - the Fazakerley Contract rifles had prefix "PF"

The Irish contract were serial numbers PF 309348 to PF359347 (50,000 rifles)

I think the UF Prefix were just the 'standard' military production and many went to the RAF

[BillPredeaux]

The 303 Brit mark looks like a German proof mark and can I see the mark for Munich?

[Alan de Enfield]

The 303 Brit mark looks like a German proof mark and can I see the mark for Munich?

I guess it could be German, but did Germany have 'another' 303 ?
I guess with the OP being in the Netherlands German proof marks for not be unusual.

I have seen "303 Brit" on many Enfield's that have made it to the USA, as America had developed its own '303' (totally different to the UK 303) they needed to identify the calibre correctly.


From Wkipedia :

The .303 Savage is a rimmed, .30 caliber rifle cartridge developed by the Savage Arms Company in 1894 which was designed as a short action cartridge for their Savage Model 1895 later 1899 hammerless lever-action rifle. The cartridge was designed for smokeless powder at a time when black-powder cartridges were still popular. The .303 Savage round was ballistically superior to the .30-30 Winchester, but only marginally. The .303 Savage remained popular through the 1930s.

As with any firearm, it is essential to use the correct type of ammunition. The .303 Savage and the .303 British cartridge are not interchangeable with each other. Neither the bullet diameter nor the cartridge dimensions are compatible. Attempting to use .303 Savage ammunition in a firearm chambered for .303 British may be unpleasant, but since the bullet diameter of the Savage is 0.308 and the British 0.311, there shouldn't be too much of a problem. The converse is not true. Attempting to chamber a .303 British cartridge in a .303 Savage weapon is guaranteed to have serious consequences. Such attempts will severely damage the firearm and possibly injure the user

[Giove]

The marks in the first pic are German, civilians: Mellrichstadt Proof House. The 3KE is the proof date: March 1995.

The two overlapping Ws, to the right of 303 Brit., are the mark of the German importer: Waffen Frankonia.

[NORTHOF60]

CIP also lists the .303 Sporting

From Cartridge Collector Net:

303 SPORTING
This was a Belgian development in the early 1970’s by Michel Baikrich, who was the owner of Fabrique d'armes " l'Arquebuserie" – Liege, Belgium from 1972 to 1982. The 303 Sporting was made by shortening the case, as well as lowering the shoulder position of the existing 303 British and was produced as a result of post-WW2 legislation against the use of military calibers in sporting weapons as was common in many European countries after WW2, including France and Belgium. It was also loaded by the French firm of Nolasco.