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Curious if these electropencil markings are original to gun or import markings? Normally I would assume they are import markings, but I don't see indication of importers name.
Thought possibly they could just be a wartime (made in 1943) efficiency vs. stamping serial numbers on.
Attachment 65054Attachment 65055Attachment 65056Attachment 65057
It's just how they were marked then. Yes, they're original.
The engraved markings look contemporary with when the rifle was FTR'd at ROF Fazackey. (Rather than when it was made.)
Beerhunter
"FTR"? Inspected? Rework?
Factory Thorough Repair - a factory rebuild. A search will find umpteen threads on the subject.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dalebert
Yes, pardon me. Just that they're the correct ones for it. Not an after market or dealer marking.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beerhunter
After the No.5 Jungle Carbine program ended in 1947, the Maltby and Fazakerly plants were without work.
The FTR program was started at Fazakerley in 1948 (the "F" preceding FTR) and continued until 1956. It was both a "make work" program to keep one of the British plants functioning and keeping skilled workers employed in a post war economic recovery, and a response to the Soviet saber-rattling (Korea and Berlin Air Lift). The electro-penciling is the standard for method used during the FTR.
What's unique with your rifle is that its missing a date. Most of the FTR rifles will have a date attached as in this picture which indicates it was upgraded in 1956:
https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...8&d=1441066513
Perhaps yours is a very early FTR, before dates were included.
The good news is the an FTR gun was carefully gauged and inspected to ensure the gun retains 80% of life expectancy for all parts. So you have a virtually new, factory reconditioned rifle -- to me the best value in a WWII relic.
could be interesting to look over its metal for any FXX stamps which might indicate if its early or not.
---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 PM ----------
FTR'd but the rear sight is a WW2 era one? (pics a bit blurred!) I thought they were removed and a mk1 sight fitted as a matter of course?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dalebert
Interesting that the serial number is only 239 different than the SN on my 5/46 Faz No. 5 Mk1. What does the "V" in the SN signify?
Attachment 65067 Attachment 65066
It looks like a stamped Mk3 or 4 rear sight which would be correct.
Gary is right. The stamped backsights were only ever obsolescent. That means production has ceased but they can be used while they remain serviceable and while stocks exist. The V in the serial number is simply the number prefix
It might be a relatively early post war FTR. The Mk.1 sights may not have been flooding the system just yet. The stamped Mk.3 and 4 rear sights are just fine as long as they're not abused too much and certainly better than the Mk.II sight. I'd bet that the OP's rifle had a Mk.2 as original.
There was evidently some picking and choosing going on the allocation of No.4s to the Cadet Forces. At school (CCF or course) in the early 1960s I never saw a No.4 with anything other than a Mk.1 sight. Local ACF units however had a right mixture: Mk.1s, Mk.2s and the pressed steel types. (Didn't get close enough to read the mark.)
My sight is marked Mk 3. I like the sight but always thought it was a little exposed in light of the stoutness of the rest of the gun and front sight.
Bought this rifle from a family friend for $50 about 30 years ago. Don't know anything beyond that about it's history. I'm assuming just a cheap milsurp acquisition from the 50s or 60s before import markings were required.