No4 Magazine Markings.

I picked up a nice No4 magazine at the Southams sale, it doesn't look as if it's seen much use.
My reason for mentioning this is that I couldn't find a thread that related to this subject. I would like to identify the year of the rifle it was once matched with, from the serial number electopencilled on it, PA26264. Also, whose mark is the M56 stamped on the spring platform? I recognise it from somewhere but can't recall, must be an age thing.

Many thanks,
Ian

PS I'll put a couple of photos up as soon as I can.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IanS

whose mark is the M56 stamped on the spring platform?

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M 56 = Cheney & Son Ltd., Willenhall

Thanks Alan, The name certainly rings a bell, but as I said, must be an age thing.
I've attached some photos as promised.

I wonder if it has been refurbed, looks like previous paint chips and scratches are toned down.
Ian

IanS,

Yep, by the time the No 4 Mk 2 was in service, many of the parts were recycled form earlier No 4 Mk 1's, or even Mk 1/2 or Mk 1/3. The mags were just another component. The spring and platform would have been replaced and the case painted, as is evident on yours. The engraving of the rifle's serial no indicates it was at least Base Workshop (wish Mr Laidler was able to correct me in terminology and location) standard of repair and/or refinishing.

22SqnRAE

Thanks for the feedback, it's interesting to learn about these items, that they go back further than you sometimes expect. I'd like to know the date of manufacture of the rifle it became "attached" to, I understand it was a Fazakerley rifle. I think what appears to be a marking U4 (orJ4), seems to have overstamped the broad arrow. Or is it the other way round? Is the U4? a manufacturer's code?
It never ceases to amaze me the depth of knowledge that is available on this forum.
Ian

IanS,

Faz made rifles up to PF, so PA is toward the latter part of the 360,000 post WWII rifles they made at that factory.

Best guess, and that's all it is, would be a Korean vintage rifle, 51-53, say?

M/56 on the platform means the wartime production code given to the parts maker. In this case (C.W. ?) Cheney & Son Ltd, Willenhall. Cheneys were a locksmith company established in the 1920s. The platform and attached spring would have been new old stock from, most likely, wartime (or extending just a few years after )production runs.

The U4 would have been the inspector's mark in the factory that made the mag case.

22SqnRAE

Many thanks for the information, it's nice to know some of the history surrounding the kit we become the custodians of. Interesting that the rifle was likely in the Korean war.
The magazine is in very good condition, I popped the spring out and it looks new inside the mag and the spring looks like it was changed in the refurb as you mentioned. Doesn't look to have had much wear since.
Thanks again Ian