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G'day there, i have just aquired (through loads of scrounging) a number 4 mk 1/2, the only markings i can find are the letters FTR with B underneath on the forward left of the receiver, it also looks like it has had almost a black paint applied.
Anyone have any insight as to what the dealio is?
(pics coming ASAP)
Cheers.
I had a Longbranch rifle with the FTR B stamp. Let's see if I can find a pic........
Ah, here it is, sorry it's an old pic before I bought a camera that took pictures in focus:D
Attachment 26923
This was a commercial FTR by the BSA factory who supplied zillions of refurbished No4 rifles to anyone who wanted/needed them or would FTR their own rifles on contract. They were FTR'd to the usual War Department (as was then) Ministry of Supply spec so if it's as it left the factory, it'll be the usual phosphate and paint finish.
As one of the FTR managers at another factory (Westly Richards, who used to get a lot of BSA sub contract work.......) told me, the principal difference between the Fazakerley Mk1/2 and BSA 1/2 was the actual trigger bracket. If anyone wants to know what it was, just ask but it saves me writing it all out for nothing when I'm already up to my arxe in alligators!
I'd like to know, Peter. When the alligators let go of your arze of course.
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The difference between the Fazakerley (Ministry of Supply Factory method) and the BSA (private contractor) method of conversion to 'hung trigger specification' was that Fazakerley manufactured the 'insert' (as the block was called) partially finished and then brazed it to the rifle body. It was machined/finished while attached to the body.
The BSA factory brought in the inserts from a sub contractor as finished items and simply brazed the finished block in place. It was cheaper like this.
As I remember it, the only difference was that the .25" wide central slot (that allows the trigger to rotate don't forget.....) was slot milled straight across at an angle on the BSA FTR's as opposed to being a .9" (?) radiussed arc machined with a horizontal mill at Fazakerley.
Because the BSA conversions were done for the commercial world we didn't see too many but there were a few floating around to the extent that the Quartermasters information bulletin notes for Armourers drew their attention to these oddball markings that we might encounter.
There, another bit of useless Lee Enfield information
Thank you.
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