-
no4 mk1 help
-
Leave it alone for now. I can't make out the mark number on the receiver, so can't tell if its gone through a "factory Thourough Repair" or FTR. The serial number looks to have been restamped, so a FTR is most likely the case. The serial numbers on the receiver and bolt match so it should be fine to shoot.
Go out and shoot it, those "L" shape rear sights are fantastic if the rifle is properly regulated. All looks clean in the pics but dry. A few coats of "boiled linseed oil" would help a lot.
-
Your rifle is a No.4 Mk.1. It's British made but I can't tell for sure which factory. Appears to have the non-grooved cocking piece which was a wartime manufacturing expedient. Springfield Sporters seems to be the best place to find parts. Check out the link for some good basic info.
The Lee-Enfield Rifle Website
-
Wow, didn't notice the plain cocking piece! Not too common any more.
With that cocking piece, I'd leave the sights alone. They go together nicely.
Can't see much on this work computer. Pics are way too dark, but can't adjust it.
-
The serial number falls in the block assigned to ROF Maltby in England
-
I was going to say, since the marking looks like it's been bashed out by a chimpanzee with a punch and hammer, it's probably a Maltby.
-
I have been collecting data on Maltby s/n's by prefix letter(s) and date. I am only able to read the "A" prefix and was wondering if you would be willing to tell me what the other prefix letter is and the date.
Based on the A? prefix, I know that it is either a 1942 or 1943 rifle. I just can't tell if it is AB, AD, AE, AI, or ?
-
It looks to be an ae. Thanks everybody everyone else I've asked said they don't know what it is. I'm a total newb to guns. So forgive me but what does the linseed oil do and how do I do it. I continually think I should sell it, to by a HD shotgun. Especially since I haven't fired it yet. But I love how it looks and feels in my hands.
-
steelrain82, An interesting aspect of your rifle is that it looks to have not been FTR'd (Factory Thorough Repair, or rearsenal) as the backsight and cocking piece would have surely been replaced, even if the rifle were in good enough condition not to warrant any other work.
This rifle is a bit of history and shouldn't be altered (your rifle to do with as you wish, of course) and likely is worth more to the collector in it's present condition.
Brad
-
I wouldn't place tooooo much emphasis on the serial number Amati as it's pretty clear that something has been ground/filed OUT and the present number has been punched on top. And in all my service, I never heard of someone filing out a serial number (yes, we did occasionally, for 'logistical' reasons.....) to put the same one back!
-
Looks like original number was something like A ? 1212
-
I see...
A E
M 1942
1 3 1 6 1
Certainly looks ground but it could be the lighting?
I can only speak from personal experience but I have only ever seen those small round inspection marks on the forward part of the receiver wall appear on Maltby rifles or rifles FTR'd at Maltby. That, and with the "M" under the "A" in the serial number prefix, leads me to think this rifle is a genuine Maltby.
This of course is only my opinion.
-
I'm with Spike on the round inspection marks---only ever seen them on Maltbys.
-----krinko
-
spike you are correct on all the numbers and letters. as far as changing anything on it i only wanted to put a flip up sight on it. but now if you folks are correct i dont want to change a thing to make it unoriginal. i havent fired it yet but i love everything about it the way it is.
