Mystery No4 MkI.

[Peter Laidler]

Looking at the abysmal sanding of the butt as typified at the heel of photo 9, probably done by a butcher on a a sanding belt, I'd bet that it was done at some factory in Asia - probably Pakistan! Then hurriedly coated with the usual coats of cover-all varnish. Yep, that says the Indian sub continent somewhere to me!

So far as the charger bridges go, we used to lever the bridge with a bar of steel (usually the stockbolt screwdriver if I remember correctly.........) and the faintest oil squeeze around the edge would consign the rifle to one side where a small hole would be drilled into each side, between the body and the 'loose' bridge. EXACTLY as shown in JM's photo. It'd be countersunk and then arc welded across. Lightly made off with the linishing wheel, it'd continue on its path through the workshop process. This process always showed through the phosphate process but would be covered by the paint. Done zillions of them!

[gsimmons]

Re: The 4's it looks like the person was having trouble with his stamp. Look closely at the one on the right. There's four strikes in a row. May have been a worn stamp?
Re: FR. I have two no.4's with this stamp. One is a 1941 Maltby and one is a 1943 LB MkI* both have MkIII back sights.

[jmoore]

Looking at the abysmal sanding of the butt as typified at the heel of photo 9, probably done by a butcher on a a sanding belt, I'd bet that it was done at some factory in Asia - probably Pakistan! Then hurriedly coated with the usual coats of cover-all varnish. Yep, that says the Indian sub continent somewhere to me!!

Or Bubbaville. So it's not pretty. At least all the parts are still trere. Anymore, that's a big bonus.

So far as the charger bridges go, we used to lever the bridge with a bar of steel (usually the stockbolt screwdriver if I remember correctly.........) and the faintest oil squeeze around the edge would consign the rifle to one side where a small hole would be drilled into each side, between the body and the 'loose' bridge. EXACTLY as shown in JM's photo. It'd be countersunk and then arc welded across. Lightly made off with the linishing wheel, it'd continue on its path through the workshop process. This process always showed through the phosphate process but would be covered by the paint. Done zillions of them!

Hence the note to look for the original (if any) retaining pins. Which can be almost invisible as Peter Laidler has mentioned a few times previously.... A good detail shot of the top of the charger bridge would be most welcome, Anzac15 !

[Anzac15]

I will try to get some up this afternoon.
So, a possible Indian/Pakistani restock? No Ishy screw. I understand that India loved to scrub rifles of all markings to 'make them their own', but would they not have scrubbed the electro pencilled Faz marking as well? Rifle appears to be an original Mk 1 all around, with the possible exeption of the woodwork.

[newcastle]

Interesting theory on eth A. i just checked the pic in my Reno gun show thread of the A suffix Faz No.4 Mk 1 and sure enough, welded charger bridge.

[Peter Laidler]

Bridge charger guides again. If it comes out, they were never a spare componemt part (oh no they weren't. A part NUMBER doesn't indicate an AVAILABLE part as I always say.....) and the rifle is scrap. So weld it in place from the word go and it's there for good

[Surpmil]

Seems they let the engraver ladies train on the job, rather than on a piece of scrap metal first.

Pity.