Lithgow #1 Mk III marking

[sdh1911]

Last week I traded a double 91/30 I had to a fella at work for a Lithgow #1 Mk111 in about 80%+ condition, 1941 build, 1942 issue, mint bore, #2 headspace block, non-import marked and all correct matching parts according to a few books I have. The one marking I can't seem to ID. Its a large stamping on the passenger side of the butt stock, it say's W.N.T.S.. Do any of you guys have any ideas? I've been throught 2 collector books and the Broad arrow and I can't find anything, HELP-SDH

Information

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[Claven2]

Are you sure it's a Lithgow? a "headspace block" is not any Enfield part I've heard of, I assume you mean bolt head? Lithgow (and all no.1 mfgrs) did not number the bolt heads. No.4's all had numbered bolt heads. Do you have a No.4?

As for WNTS it would relate to one of the issues your rifle saw in action. Hard to say what it is, but if you really have a Lithgow, I would be it's a cadet marking since most of these saw service with the Cadets last before being surplused. The rest went to India where they were heavily refubed and used until just a few years ago. Now they are on the surplus market stateside from places like AIM surplus. Most have Indian replacement mahogany wood, have been machine scrubbed, sometimes reserialized, plainted black, Ishy screw installed, etc. and are generally beat up. Since your is in 80% condition, I doubt it went to India.

[sdh1911]

My apologies, yes it is the bolt head, not a head space block and it it a Lithgow for sure. I checked every part against seberal books and the parts all jive with the MFG.s down under. Also it's a #1 Mk III, not a #4. I have one of those also but no need to go there, its a Savage and all of the parts are stamped with the "S". Thanks for the information regarding the Cadet status. That had crossed my mind but wanted to make sure. The bore should be a good indicator of who used it and did they have time to clean it. This rifle was well maintained , so, the concept of it being a schoolhouse gun jives well with it's condition-Many thanks-SDH

[Claven2]

God... my spelling/typing is ATROCIOUS. Where's that embarassed emoticon again???

[sdh1911]

Hey Claven,

The only reason I went into Engineer and gumsmithing is because these fields for the mot part don't require gramatic perfection.-SDH

[Badger]

How does this sound?

Lee Enfield Rifle Markings - Unit Marks (click here)

WNTS = Watts Naval Training School, Norfolk, UK

Regards,
Badger

[sdh1911]

Looks like case is closed, many thanks Badger-SDH

[Michael Allee]

If anyone ever needs a bolt head with a longer front to eliminate headspace, I can supply any length you want. I regularly buy SMLE'S with horrible headspace, sometimes 25 thou! and this fixes it completely and without removing the bbl.

[Alan de Enfield]

If anyone ever needs a bolt head with a longer front to eliminate headspace, I can supply any length you want. I regularly buy SMLE'S with horrible headspace, sometimes 25 thou! and this fixes it completely and without removing the bbl.

Can you tell more ?

Are you making up new bolt heads sized to order ?

[Peter Laidler]

Just be VERY careful if you select and use a bolthead that isn't one of the usual 0 to 3 variants, proofed, as issued.

We had a series of trials many years ago to extend the life of thousands of No4's that were rejected at Base Workshops for failing to CHS on the No2 bolt head. The No3 bolthead was not permitted at Base Workshop level.

I won't go into the technicalities of it all as it has been written up here previously, but in short, failure to CHS was never caused by a worn breech end of the barrel but by worn locking lugs on the bolts or bodies. If you couldn't CHS on a new bolt body, using the full range of bolt heads, then it indicated that the hardening of the rifle body had broken down

Just be warned........................