Enfield stamps

[true_w]

Hi,

I'm trying to identify a few marks on a No.4 MkI* and would appreciate any information I can get on them. Thanks.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Put your hands in your pocket and buy Skennertons book on the subject. Not expensive and available from Brian at BDL Ltd who advertises on this site. But as an Armourers rule of thumb, anything with an F in the format originates from the old Ministry of Suppply facory number 6 at Fazakerley in England

[true_w]

Thanks for the information, Peter. Much appreciated.

[Brian Dick]

From what I can see I'd guess it's a Savage that's been through FTR at ROF Fazakerley. I can see the importer's "made in USA" stamp and the "U" of U.S. Property.

[true_w]

It's a 1942 Savage No.4 MkI*. The stock is definitely not original. There is a CE 1967 stamp on the top and bottom of the forend cap. I've read where that might be a South African stamp? The forend swivel doesn't look to be original either. The rear swivel is worn like the receiver and has the Savage stamp, so I figure that might be original. The buttplate is not brass, so I believe that might not be original either. I figured the stamp in the first pic was an inspectors mark, but I was hoping maybe I could track down who actually made that stamp and where. I'm new to Enfields, so I'm trying to find out as much as I can about what I have.

[Brian Dick]

Yup, it's stocked up with South African contract beech.

[true_w]

Thanks, Brian. I take it the rifle spent some time in South Africa or does that just mean the beech stocks were imported to England and fitted there?

[Frederick303]

The stocks were avaliable here in the US of A around 1998~2002, in new condition. All I saw were No 4 Mk I type, I never saw a MK II stock. Most have been used to restore rifles here in the US of A, at least from what I have seen.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

N65 is a wartime manufacturers code for Sigmund Pumps Ltd. Gateshead. However, in this case it's probably an inspector's stamp like the other one

[Brian Dick]

I'd guess it's been restocked here in the USA since I don't see a "U Broad Arrow" South african ownership mark which is usually stamped on the top of the receiver ring. The South African wood was available in quantity in Canada and the USA for quite a while. I still have a couple of new sets left here with British beech butts. I had Mk.2 forends too complete with the reinforcing bolt and nut up until last year when I finally ran out of them. Many were selling them less the metal hardware and those little bolts and nuts are very hard to find.