Which factory made this No. 4 Mk I?

[jbrid]

I have a well used No. 4 Mk I that I can't clearly identify which factory/armory made it. I'm hoping someone on the forum can help.


The No. 4 Mk I marking on the action body is very faint, as is the serial number. The date - 1943, is the strongest marking, and as best I can make out the serial number is 7x12 or 7x42, with no prefix being present. The second number is most likely an 8, but could posssbly be a 5 - it is jsut too faint to be sure. There is a stamped letter "B" above the date on the buttsocket and on the barrel. On the action body next to the safety catch slot, there is a stamped letter "M". Note that the "M is covered by the safety locking bolt when the safety is in the off position. There are no conversion or FTR makrings that I can find, but there are numerous British accpetance and proof marks.

Pictures are attached.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jim

Information

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[Enfieldlock]

Most probably BSA.

[Amatikulu]

Yup, I'd also say based on the marking it's a BSA. The position of the 1943 and the 'No.4 mark 1" look typical as does the hole in the bolt handle.

[jbrid]

Chuch -- sorry, the one picture is misleading -- the safety catch is missing. I apologize -- I should have mentioned this when I posted the pictures. I can see that the locking bolt is threaded for the safety catch, so I'm going to order a safety catch from Numrich to correct this problem before I take this one to the range.

I've checked the headspace while I had the bolt disassembled -- it's ok. While were on that subject, the headspace gage I have was made by Forester and is clearly marked "Field" ".303" and ".070". From the reading I've done, I would have expected the field gage to be 0.074 and the no go gage 0.070. Which is correct for the field gage - .070 or .074?

One other question - what is the meaning of the "B" and the "M" marks? Based on Stratton's book, I was guessing that the "M" was for Maltby, but was puzzled by the location. I haven't found the "B" listed in Stratton's book.

Thanks to all for the help.

Jim

[Alan de Enfield]

Chuch -- sorry, the one picture is misleading -- the safety catch is missing. I apologize -- I should have mentioned this when I posted the pictures. I can see that the locking bolt is threaded for the safety catch, so I'm going to order a safety catch from Numrich to correct this problem before I take this one to the range.

I've checked the headspace while I had the bolt disassembled -- it's ok. While were on that subject, the headspace gage I have was made by Forester and is clearly marked "Field" ".303" and ".070". From the reading I've done, I would have expected the field gage to be 0.074 and the no go gage 0.070. Which is correct for the field gage - .070 or .074?

One other question - what is the meaning of the "B" and the "M" marks? Based on Stratton's book, I was guessing that the "M" was for Maltby, but was puzzled by the location. I haven't found the "B" listed in Stratton's book.

Thanks to all for the help.

Jim

It looks as if you've got SAMMI gagues instead of the Military ones.

Many a 'good gun' has been consigned to the scrap heap as a headspace failure when using the commercial headspace gagues which are 'undersize' to cover their a***'s in this litigious day & age.

The 'correct' headspacing for an LE is 0.064" - 0.074"

[jbrid]

Thanks for your help.

Jim

[Sunray]

C.I.A. is Century International Arms. It's likely one of their 'assembled out of parts bins' rifles. Check the headspace before you shoot it. Century used no QC of any kind. Not even checking the headspace to ensure the rifle is safe to shoot.
Once you've checked the headspace, slug the barrel(hammer a cast .30 cal bullet or suitably sized lead fishing sinker through the barrel with a 1.4" brass rod and a plastic mallet and measure with a micrometer). Barrels can measure between .311" and .315" and still be considered ok. Over .315", the barrel is shot out.

[Mk VII]

and portions of the safety are missing.

[Beerhunter]

and portions of the safety are missing.

Well spotted. In fact it is the important 'portion'.

[45B20]

Beerhunter and Mk.VII

I think jbrid just removed the safety for some photos so the ‘M’ underneath it could been seen. The safety is present in other shots.

45B20