Lee Enfield Purchase....PF 1412

I just acquired a Lee Enfield No4 Mk1. It is serial number PF 1412. It is also matching to the bolt and stock. It is in really good condition. Barrel is ultra sharp. It is a 6 groove barrel. Most parts are marked with an F and the british arrow head. Stock is marked with a 508, arrowhead in a circle, an N under the grip and a B and Diamond I to the front of the magazine. The stock is marked 1412 toward the front, underneath.

Anyone know a serial number date database that can provide date of manufacture????

Any info is certainly welcome. I know nothing about Enfields.

Import mark is a double Cent Arms. Small on left side of receiver, one right over top of the other. Gentleman bought it 15+ years ago and I acquired it yesterday evening. Many thanks.

PF s/n'd Fazakerly's in the Mk I action type are 1948 manufacture, the exact month I cannot help with as I never kept a record of other I have seen.

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Originally Posted by hammonje

Anyone know a serial number date database that can provide date of manufacture????

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I lost most of my data but was able to find the following from some notes I have:

PF2212 -- 1/1948
PF6741 -- 2/1948

I only ask 2 things - photos and range report!!!!

Here are a few snaps of my No4 Mk1 and Mk2 equivalent Enfields. Purchased them both this weekend. They are so cheap, but I'll have to reload for ammunition. All I need are some bullets and dies. Anything you guys can tell me about these is most welcome. I don't know a thing other than they shoot fantastic. Smooth, concise. Only wish ammo was readily available, but I do reload for all my other service rifles.

The top rifle is a F 56 FTR (F=FAZAKERLEY) of original British origin and the lower one is the PF 1412. The left side of the receiver from the FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) is in the second picture. This rifle has more stamps on it than one can make sense of. Both are all matching, including stock, magazine, bolt, receiver, etc. Have not checked the barrels. The FTR is a 5 groove, while the PF has 6.

Range report to follow first vintage match.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nfields1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../No4Mk13-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by hammonje

The top rifle is a F 56 FTR (F=FAZAKERLEY) of original British origin

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This one is a Long Branch No4 MkI* that was upgraded to a MkI/3 in 1956 at Fazakerley.

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Originally Posted by hammonje

lower one is the PF 1412

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Looks like this rifle spent some time in India.

Very nice looking rifles.

Thanks....I wish I would have discovered them earlier while ammo was still available. They are so cheap compared with 1903/a3s, 1917s, and M1s.

Paid $230 for the PF1412 and $300 for the Long Branch. Local purchases. The rifling is very strong, especially in the PF1412. Both barrels are minty and bright. Can't wait to shoot them. Had to rain....go figure. Bought 80 rounds of Prvi to get some brass to reload.

What is indicative of Indian service??? That's cool.

The transverse screw through the fore stock is a common sign of service with the Indian armed forces. In your case, the butt stock roundel with the broad arrow and "508" is an Indian stores inspection mark.

Thanks....also how do I tell the barrel manufacturer???

It has a Crown F 98, Crown 15 N, and Crown 64 N, and a Crown N 12.

Please ease your springs.

Close the bolt with the trigger pulled

Thank you. Will do.

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Originally Posted by newbieDAN

Please ease your springs.

Close the bolt with the trigger pulled

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by newbieDAN

Please ease your springs.

Close the bolt with the trigger pulled

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EXACTLY what I was thinking!!!!!!! Nice rifles, take care of them....

If you want to make sense of all those markings go to the following website.

The Lee-Enfield Rifle

You will find various menu pages regarding markings under:
"Part One - General History",
then also look at; "Buttsocket Markings of the Enfield" and "Basic Enfield Identification and the Facts about Serial Numbers".

There's also piles of other information there as well. IMHO one of the best online recources out there for the Lee Enfield.

As far as the Indian Service rifles, I am no authourity but many were WWII surplus rifles that were bought by India and used in the Military and Police Forces (there are still some in service there today). For example your Long Branch was built in Ontario Canada, then would have seen service in the Canadian Military until (at the latest) the mid-late 50's when they were phased-out and most where sold off.

India did re-serial # a lot of them like the one you have (xxxxxxxxx across the original serial #), they do it this way as they make no secret of the change. Indian Armourers re-fit and exchanged a lot of parts from gun to gun which might be the reason for the new serial # on the reciever. You can also tell when a #-change has been hidden; look on the 'rounded' part of the receiver strap (Buttsocket), there will be a flattened spot where the original # was filed/grinded off and re-stamped over top of the old one, usually with larger #'s.

Enjoy your rifles!

Expect them to be good shooters too, there have been plenty of reports that they outshoot M1 Garands, (and the Garand is no slouch in any department), ie 1.5 MOA, and No4's will do that to 1000 yards with aplomb, due to something in the DNA called positive compensation.