My new toy, No4Mk1 T

[NearSightedSniper]

Hey guys, just want to share my gun shop experience with you this past Saturday.

So I had to drop my kids off to the wife on my way into work [she sells paparizzi jewelry at little craft fairs] & luckily for me there was a gun shop about a mile away from where she was. So after I dropped the kiddies off to her I decided to stop in & check things out. The place was crowded but there was an open space near the cash register so I head over there, immediately I see the unmistakable front ends of 2 M1 Garand's, I was patiently waiting for the clerk to finish up what he was doing & I was going to ask him to see the M1's but while I was waiting I noticed that there was an Enfield No4Mk1 sitting there too, I couldn't tell but it looked like there was a scope on it too. So instead of inquiring about the M1's I asked to see the Enfield.
He turned around, picked it up & handed it to me, as soon as it was in my hands I realized that it was my Holy Grail!!! He had just handed me a No4Mk1 T. I couldn't believe it, I was expecting to see some bubba hack job with a Tapco scope mount & a Chinese scope. But this looked to me to be the real deal, I have been wanting one of these for over 20 years & I have done a little research on them, so I started looking for markings, what I found first was the S51 stamp on the underside of the stock, then I looked at the scope & the thing is a little cruddy with markings that I thought I recognized as originals. I immediately looked for the "T" & it was right where I thought it should be. Everything else started falling into place. I was in utter disbelief!!!
Now for the moment I was dreading, lets look at the price tag. What's this?? There's no price on it, it just said Enfield No4. The gentleman that handed it to me was watching me with a look of boredom on his face, I asked him why there was no price on it. His [almost] exact words were "We really don't know what it is, it's been sitting here for over a month & were waiting on a guy to stop in & tell us what it is & what it's worth. I asked him if I could leave my contact info so when they did price it they could call me & I would buy it. He said no, it would only get lost. Just call once a week to see if he stopped by. I said OK, who do I ask for? He gave me a name & that dude just happened to be walking by so I asked him, any idea when you'll have a price? His response was, Hell, I'll put a price on it right now.
He said 5. I say Thousand? He looked at me like I was an idiot and said No, $500. I said, well if you want $500 for it I'll buy it right now. His response.... Ok let me get you some paperwork. 15 minutes later [which felt like an ETERNITY] I was walking out the door with my Holy Grail, the best Sniper rifle of WW2. The Enfield No4Mk1 T!!!!!!
The funny thing is that on Wednesday Feb 27th a package arrived from the UK, it was a scope mount from Mr. Roger Paine for the No4 Mk1 T clone I was going to build, a few weeks prior to that I spoke with Brian @ BDL LTD about putting together a clone on a really nice No4 Mk1 that I have.
I can't believe the timing!!! I have been wanting this rifle for over 20 years & not only did I find it but I got the deal of a lifetime on it. I can't wait to get her out & see how she shoots. The bore is nice & shiny with pretty decent rifling.
Here are some pics
























I had one of these too but in a moment of SHEER STUPIDITY I sold it!!!


Anyway, thanks in advance I know I was a little long winded but I felt the story deserved the detail.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

Every so often one get's a lucky break. That was yours...after 20 years you deserve it. Very nice... Now, the most important thing, how does it shoot? Keep us up on that. I too had a Mk1 bren and sold it. It went to a good home though.

[NearSightedSniper]

A little more info
The serial # on the underside of the stock near the muzzle is the same as the ones on the bolt handle & receiver ring, the scope serial does not match & neither does the # on the mount. The stock is really Beautiful, however the 3rd sling keeper is missing from in front of the magazine. The screws on the front pad are peened [1 each] I can't tell about the rear pad because I really don't want to remove the mount just to see, basically I don't want to mess my new baby up. The leather connecting "arm?" that connects the front & rear lens covers has ripped off, wasn't there when I bought it but these covers look way too good to be old so I'm guessing that this part is a repro.











This screw is painted red, any idea why? I found out that a painted red W means waterproof & a painted blue B means bloomed, but haven't read anything about a red screw.
Also don't really know what Bloomed means LOL.

[smle addict]

Outstanding score!! I hope once you got the rifle, you ran outta there as fast as you could have!

Glad to hear you scored one at a ridiculously low price. You did well; congratulations!

[NearSightedSniper]

I left immediately.
Had to get to work, however I did stop & pick up a few Powerball tickets just in case there was any LUCK left in me!!!!
I'll give you 1 guess whether or not I had any left!!!

[bros]

Congratulations....... you stole it.
Here in Canada if it was priced accordingly...the 500 bucks you paid probably would not cover the taxes!!!
I don't know why the serial number on the wrist is engraved as opposed to being stamped as would be the normal case.
I guess there was no mention from the shop owner of the scope case or transit chest. I would do a little follow up and try to find out where that rifle came from......possibly from somebody's estate?? Maybe the chest is still around and the scope case. Accessories and other related items often get separated when estate's are being liquidated.......for the minimal effort required, it's worth a shot.
In fact I'd lace up my running shoes..... high tail it down there and find out what the 2 M1 Garands are going for!!!!!

[Seaforth72]

Superb score. Yes, do ask about scope case (steel or canvas), wooden rifle chest "No. 15 Mk. I" and even the M1907 U.S. leather sling (dark leather, original, often dated 1918, with brass claws). Do not be afraid to remove the scope. Lay rifle across your knees with the two big round knobs uppermost. Gently turn them counter-clockwise. When both are disengaged from the scope pads (but still in the bracket, lift off the scope.

If you cannot find the sling that came with it, watch for a genuine (preferably) U.S. M1907 leather sling (standard for WWI and early WWII). Brass claws for WWI are preferable but steel claws WWII dated one is fine as both versions were used. You can use a replica M1907 of course but they are very pale compared to the originals.

For the record, here is information on your rifle and scope to make it easier to search for in the future. Please correct me if I have made any mistakes.

YOUR RIFLE: F37263 (on body, bolt and fore-end), Fore-end number with correct by not having prefix letter and is lengthwise. Made by BSA Shirley (M47C) in 1944. Has "TR", "S", "S51" and "T" markings. The wrist is stamped with the number of the scope that was assigned to it at Holland and Holland (S51 was their wartime code.) was 16668

YOUR MISMATCHED BRACKET AND SCOPE: Bracket has "JG" (Rose Brothers) SN to rifle R33899 and scope cradle caps 84/84 85/85
Scope No,. 32 Mk. III OS. 2039 A Serial number 16726 made in 1944 by AK&S. This model apparently was first issued in October, 1944.

Unusual FEATURES: There appears to be "1945" stamped very faintly above the rifle serial number on the bracket. On the underside of the grip it is stamped with maker's initials "S.L" over a large upside down "V" as in ^ over a 6-pointed star. (Weedon? - Usually found on overhauled rifles I believe but rifle appears to still be matching butt,body. bolt. fore-end.)

It is a typical mismatched set as sold surplus about 1970. The main large surplus dealers reportedly did not know or care about matching scope to rifle. I checked my research database and there is no sign yet of rifle R33899 that matches your scope and bracket, or of scope 16668 that matches your rifle.

Eventually if you dismantle the rifle for detailed cleaning and examination you should find:
1. On butt, once out of the body socket, the numbers of the serial number 37363 stamped into the top ledge. Instructions for removing the butt are on my web site at: https://captainstevens.com/military/...i-t-furniture/
2. On barrel the year (e.g. '44) and serial number
3. On inside of hand guards and fore-end, possibly the last three digits of the serial number in pencil.


ONE CAUTION: DO NOT FORCE THE TURRETS! The grease in them often hardens. If force, it can cause damage. If they do not turn easily, contact Brian Dick in South Carolina http://bdlltd.com/contact/

[Brian B]

Congratulations!! Clean living!!

Brian B

[mrclark303]

Outstanding buy, really well done, looking forward to a range report!

[waco16]

This screw is painted red, any idea why? I found out that a painted red W means waterproof & a painted blue B means bloomed, but haven't read anything about a red screw.
Also don't really know what Bloomed means LOL.

'Bloomed' is a coating on the lens's to improve light gathering
The red screw on the scope is a desiccation screw