FTR Serial Numbers

[pedro243]

Hi Guys

I have been wondering if the FTR serials numbers have give any idea of where/when it was refurbished? If not are there any marking which may give an idea?

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Generally speaking the FTR mark is followed by a date such as FTR(F)55 or B/54 followed by the serial number. Fazakerley didn't change the vserial numbers because they were all FTR'd for the Government/MoS whereas those from the commercial BSA did re-start - but not always. For instance, if they were sent to BSA by, say, Nigeria (a BIG BSA customer) then they'g go in as heaps of tat and come out as fully FTR'd, same numbers heaps of tat

[newcastle]

Generally speaking the FTR mark is followed by a date such as FTR(F)55 or B/54 followed by the serial number. Fazakerley didn't change the vserial numbers because they were all FTR'd for the Government/MoS whereas those from the commercial BSA did re-start - but not always. For instance, if they were sent to BSA by, say, Nigeria (a BIG BSA customer) then they'g go in as heaps of tat and come out as fully FTR'd, same numbers heaps of tat

I just mentioned in a thread a week ago an BSA 1994 No.4 Mk1 which was FTR'd into a Mk1/2 in 1955 at Fazackerly and WAS reserialed with an A 12XX number on receiver, bolt and barrel. Was the serial change because it was effectively classed as a new rifle, having been changed from Mk1 into Mk 1/2?

[pedro243]

Oh ok. My original number was :

3
77071 (as stamped on the action)
J

which according to Ian Skennerton's book backs up that its a 1918 Enfield No1 Mk3*.

but since then, the 77071 has been crossed out and it now looks like this :

3
xxxxx
J
2877

The bolt has been stamped with J 2877 and the nose cap has 2877 on the bayonet lug. The nose cap and the trigger guard both have BA stamped underneath them.

And i just found out the barrel was made on 8 '45

[Demo]

To my knowledge all rifles FTR'd in Australia retained the original serial number. There maybe exceptions I would think. A number crossed out on a rifle that has been in Australian service could be the military district number, in your case the 77071 being the number and 3 for 3rd military district in Victoria.

[pedro243]

It appears to have been FTR'd in Australia because it has the Australian ownership marks and proof marks. I' am assuming it was FTR'd in 1945 because of the barrel date.

So the 3 maybe have been stamped on after? That would make sense because i thought the original Enfield serial number had 5 digits (77071)

[Demo]

It sounds like the military district number to me, not a serial number. Does it look like this?

Can you take some photo's?

[pedro243]

It looks the same as that.

[IMG][/IMG]

I always thought the J was part of the serial number because J was one of the letters used by Enfield. Maybe that is what the extra 3 is.

Do you know where that particular district number could be?

[Demo]

The crossed out five digit number is the military district number. The 3 if it is a 3 (poor photo) I would think is the 3rd military district - Victoria.

J2877 is the serial number.

[pedro243]

Yeah sorry about the photo.

Thanks for that. That is interesting because i always thought the serial number was the long one and the FTR serial number was the short 1.

If a rifle has been FTR'd, do they always have a stamp to show it?

Sorry about all the questions