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I have this No 4 with some engraved markings when I'm used to stamps. Just trying to figure where it was made and I don't see a marking that would tell me. I don't see an M, RM or ROF(M) for Maltby, or ROF(F), F, FY for Fazakerley or the B, 85B, M47 for BSA. Little help?
Fazakerley (Just outside of Liverpool)
The serial number prefix gives it away.
The "No4 Mk1(F) FTR 48" indicates Fazakerley
and the fact it has a Suffix letter A was a suffix used by Fazakerley as a warning to armourers to say there is a non-standard (hand fitted) part used on the rifle.
It could be something as simple as a thread stripped so it was re-tapped and an oversize screw/bolt fitted. You will probably never find out which part it is.
The side of the receiver looks as though it has been scrubbed, and then electro-pencilled No. 4 Mk I (F) FTR 48. That would be a Fazakerley rebuild in 1948. The receiver socket is stamped ROF indicating Royal Ordinance Factory and possibly a 1942 date. That's the best I can do. Hopefully, some of the wiser heads will help you.
The butt socket indicates Fazackerley manufacture in 1942, FTR'ed there in 1948 according to the side wall engraving. The month as well as the year of manufacture was also generally applied by Faz, but this info is generally very poorly stamped, & this one is no exception. If I had to bet on it, that little mark that looks like a '+' in front of the /42 is probably all that 'took' of a hurriedly stamped number '4' when the rifle was stamped up.....indicating April 1942. But that's just my two cents' worth......
the MoS records indicate that 149,929 No.4s were reconditioned in FY1948/49. https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....21&cid=1&stc=1
Excellent information. Thanks everyone. So assembled at Fazakerley in 1942, and under went repairs at the same place in 1948. I'd sure like to now what happened in the six years between with this rifle. But I guess that's the fun of milsurps. I mean you can only strap so many things to an AR before you realize they're boring to shoot. But my Fazzy? ( that's what I'm calling it now, see if it catches on ;) ) Barrel is in decent shape, one front sight protector is bent a little and someone has been over the wood. Too smooth and just a touch of a varnish seems to have been applied. Subtle but noticeable. Now to see if it can hold groups. Thanks again everyone, the collectove knowledge on this site is kinda awe inspiring. I try and drum up new visitors to the site every range trip.