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Hi all,
just purchased my first N04 Mk1 and am a bit confused on it's origins. The markings on the left side of the receiver ae barely legible as it's been covered up by paint I believe. What you can read is N04 Mk1 then underneath that a 54/P or B.
The left side of the stock ring has F51 the underneath B06004. That's all I can get. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Sounds like Fazakerley No. 4 markings. Are you sure it's a Mk I? '54 seems very late for Mk I production. Possibly '44? I don't know how clear the numbers are on your rifle. Could also potentially be an FTR marking...
I don't have any of my Faz rifles at hand, so I've pulled a representative photo from the internet as an example of their production markings.
Attachment 108132
Here's some pics. As you can see the 1st pic you can barely see the markings.
Definitely tough to read! It is certainly a Mk I though based on the tiebar on the fore-end. With the lack of date or "M47C" on the butt socket, it was not manufactured at BSA & the receiver markings & serial number are wrong for a Savage or Long Branch rifle. That leaves ROF Fazakerley or ROF Maltby, though my gut says Fazakerley.
would that number which looks like a 54 be the year of manufacture?Quote:
Originally Posted by 303 Gunner
No, if it is indeed 54 (it looks like it to me too), it would have to be the date of a Factory Thorough Repair (FTR) rather than production. '54 is too late for a Mk I.
interesting. Thanks for the info.
Yes, I'm pretty sure that 1949 was last year that the Mk.1 were made.Quote:
Originally Posted by 303 Gunner
Yes, odd that it says F51 on the butt socket. In agreement with 303Gunner, if push comes to shove my money's on it being of Faz original mfr. If the OP wants to remove the forend & have a look at the draws we can find out for sure. The draws (the two bosses that project down from the underside of the body of the rifle, onto which the sear & mag release catch are fitted) are symmetrical EXCEPT on rifles of Faz manufacture, where one is bigger than the other - they look obviously different. If it looks lop sided it's Fazackerley, but if both draws are the same it was made elsewhere, & in that event I would have thought BSA would be the next most likely candidate.
Ok I'll do that and get some pics
OK here they are. They look even to me.
I saw this marking and figured I would take a pic of it too.
Here are some of the rifle.
It looks like a Fazakerley. It’s been heavily refinished in Indian service. The markings on the butt socket have been reapplied. The sky is the limit with Indian rifles.
Yup, agree with Brian. Probably Indian rework, along with the forend screw. The draws are asymmetrical as well, so it's Faz. To see what I was trying to explain, if you look at the two metal bosses that the magazine release catch is attached to, one of them is much 'chunkier' than the other. This is because Faz omitted the lightening machining operations on the one boss, presumably to save time. The other boss is contoured & lightened, but it needs to be as it has the little plate screwed to it that locates the bolt release catch & spring. If you see this asymmetry, no matter how much a rifle has been refinished, it originated at ROF Fazackerley (assuming it is not obviously a Mk1* rifle).
I guess there is no way at this point to figure out when it was made? And yes I know see what you mean about the draws. Thank you to everyone for helping me understand this rifle better!