Lee-Enfield Rack Numbers

[Georgy_K_Zhukov]

So I have a No. 4 Mk. 2, dates to 1952, and it has what I assume is a rack number stenciled on the side - 891 (Attached). Is there anything to the rack numbers that would allow me to learn anything about the rifle's history? Or is it just not at all unique enough to learn anything from?

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[Steve H. in N.Y.]

No. All you can tell for sure is that at one time, somewhere in the world, it was given the rack / inventory number of 891.

[Georgy_K_Zhukov]

No. All you can tell for sure is that at one time, somewhere in the world, it was given the rack / inventory number of 891.

Thats about what I figured, but eh, couldn't hurt to be sure!

Thanks!

[Patrick Chadwick]

A stencilled number applied by heaven knows who heaven knows when. Sorry, all you "part of its history fans", but the wood looks great and the number looks tatty - I would just remove it!

[Peter Laidler]

It won't tell you anything BUT in my opinion, it is a VERY high rack number. Usually, in my experience, the butt numbers belong to rifles/weapons in the COMPANY Armoury and these wouldn't get anywhere close to the 800's. Even a battalions worth of weapons would not get to 800 and it'd be a lot less rifles when you deducted the SMG's and pistols and LMG's etc etc.

But it is part of the rifles historic past Georgy. Maybe......, just maybe, it should be left. Because one day, you might meet up with or read of someone who has a similarly marked rifle in a similar font who knows about a bit of its history and then.................

[Patrick Chadwick]

Could it be 168? It's hard to tell, but it appears that the better preserved loop of the 8 is the smaller one, and that would be at the top.

[Beerhunter]

The rule of thumb with antiques and collectables when in doubt whether to clean or not to clean (In this case the advice to remove the number) is DON'T! That number, although put there by a person or persons unknown, is part of the rifle's history. As has been said, at some point in the future someone may be able to figure it out and so it is incumbent on us not to destroy historic evidence.

Of course it is your rifle and so you can what you like with it. I am merely speaking as a Museum Curator and so have a vested interest in the past.

[Gnr527]

Speaking as the clown who took an eraser to a pencilled number on the Colin Moon handguard of my enforcer ( I'll never know if the handguard is original or not now) - I suggest you leave it.

John

[Patrick Chadwick]

OK, the popular vote is against me! But how about the possibility that it is 168, i.e. to be read the other way around?

[Paul S.]

If I remember correctly, the rifles were racked toe out. If so, the number would definitely be 891 since reads correctly from left to right and right side up.