7.62 No4 Mk1 Identification

G'day

I have a Fazackerly No4 Mk1 converted to 7.62mm calibre. It does not fit any of the conversions detailed in Skennerton's Lee Enfield book.
It entered police sevice in Australia in the early 1970's and was retired in the late 1970's -early 1980's. I looks like a L39A1 with an Anshutz tunnel foresight and a Central Bisley rear peep sight. Apart from the serial Number F22197 and No4 Mk1 stamps, the only other identifying mark is (Ithink) the converting gunsmith's stamp which appears on the left hans side of the action body just below the charging bridge. The stamp is 5mm in diameter. Can anyone identify the stamp?

The stamp consists of a larger capital A with a top crossbar so it looks like a seesaw. Eitherside of the A are the leeters C (on the left) and S (on the right. All letters are upper case.
Cheers

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Originally Posted by Enny1

G'day

I have a Fazackerly No4 Mk1 converted to 7.62mm calibre. It does not fit any of the conversions detailed in Skennerton's Lee Enfield book.
It entered police sevice in Australia in the early 1970's and was retired in the late 1970's -early 1980's. I looks like a L39A1 with an Anshutz tunnel foresight and a Central Bisley rear peep sight. Apart from the serial Number F22197 and No4 Mk1 stamps, the only other identifying mark is (Ithink) the converting gunsmith's stamp which appears on the left hans side of the action body just below the charging bridge. The stamp is 5mm in diameter. Can anyone identify the stamp?



The stamp consists of a larger capital A with a top crossbar so it looks like a seesaw. Eitherside of the A are the leeters C (on the left) and S (on the right. All letters are upper case.
Cheers

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That is the stamp used to show the rifle had passed the proof test at Lithgow. The rifle description is as for a range rifle of the day

Wouldn't the Lithgow test show an "L" rather than an "S"? The No 4 I had tested at Lithgow SAF prior to conversion has an "L".

I have a theory that the "S" might stand for "Sportco" in South Australia, who also did many No 4 conversions for full-bore shooting.

Thank you for your replies.

There's that phrase again- "range rifle". It sounds like it has some legal meaning, is this part of some classification system in Australia?

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Originally Posted by stevebc

There's that phrase again- "range rifle". It sounds like it has some legal meaning, is this part of some classification system in Australia?

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When 7.62 was adopted the choice for range shooters was either buy a new Omark or have their No4 converted. The rifles had to be proofed and that stamp was the proof that it had been done. NO STAMP NO USE. Not all rifles passed this conversion or FTR. Generally only range rifle shooters had these rifles hence the term range rifle. The military mostly used the No1 Mk3 which failed the conversion.

Thanks Bindi, but that raises another question- "when 7.62 was adopted either buy an Omark or have their No.4 converted"- you can't shoot .303? Sorry for the thread hi-jack- if it's too long to explain your system, I'll understand. Maybe there's an FAQ that explains it?

My understanding is that at the time ammunition was supplied by the Commonwealth - so 7.62 it was.

You had to shoot the ammo issued for the match (in many matches you still do). During the transitional period both calibres were available for a while but eventually military 7.62 was the only thing they would give you (and the cases remain their property)

Stevebc the boys are on it. This was also the beginning of real target rifle manufacture in Australia. The shortened long lee or range pattern as it was called was the first before the 7.62. The heavy barrel was a long lee shortened and fitted to the No1. The Omark action was the first dedicated S S made here in bulk there were others in smaller numbers.:thup:

They were pretty good the Omarks I had one had the bolt pin done and had a 17mm tunnel up front, they were accurate and within the price range of most shooters think I got mine 2nd hand for $90 with sights but re-barreled it with a B44 cannot remember the costs now, every one always liked the Black mountain barrels we shot ADI 308 ammo exclusively no reloads and as said the brass had to go back.

Thanks to all for the explanations, I'd wondered for a while now.