Hello and need some help

[jjrick]

I have dug pretty deep for information but I seem to find anything for these markings. Cliff notes version is that I inherited this LE and don't know much about it. It has been sporterized and is devoid of any markings on the stock. It also does not have a buttplate. I have found the basic info like it's a No4 Rifle Mk1 in .303 British. I am looking for manufacture year, facility, etc.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Information

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[tlvaughn]

I am looking for manufacture year, facility, etc.

Your rifle was manufactured in the Royal Ordnance Factory at Fazakerley in 1942.

[jjrick]

Thanks, since it didn't have the ROF (F) marking I wasn't sure.

I appreciate the help.

[Beerhunter]

Your rifle was manufactured in the Royal Ordnance Factory at Fazakerley in 1942.

That looks like a ROF Maltby to me. I will need quite some convincing that I am wrong.

[tbonesmith]

Looks like a Maltby to me too, date I can't tell. I've got one marked very similar.

[Badger]

Hello jjrick ..

You might also want to type in the Google CSE white search box (top right of forum) the phrase rof maltby and read some of the past site threads that turn up. There's some interesting content and pics in a few of them that you might find helpful...

Regards,
Doug

[Peter Laidler]

The bodyside marking looks like Maltby but the absolutely atrocious number stamping on the butt socket, followed by the letter A looks suspiciously like Fazakerley to me. I'd say an early Fazakerley............, before they deteriorated!

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

I have to guess Fazakerly. If I'm straight on this Maltby quit marking "ROFM" on the receiver side wall during 1942, then began using their stylised "M" preceding the date on the butt socket without "ROF". I can't quite decipher that mess stamped just above the serial number but the "N" below it may indicate naval use?

* And judging by the timing of the last reply it takes me thirteen minutes to type three sentences. I'm getting better!

[Amatikulu]

It looks like two serial numbers - the "scruffy" number is from the 10000 block indicating Maltby and the lower number is in the 20000 block indicating Fazakerley hmmmm..............

The rather prominent "N" below them all catches my eye as I've never seen one there before - is this a Naval ownership mark?

[tlvaughn]

It looks like two serial numbers - the "scruffy" number is from the 10000 block indicating Maltby and the lower number is in the 20000 block indicating Fazakerley hmmmm..............

I believe the confusion is in the two sets of numbers. The top set, 11142, is actually the date -- 11/42 and the lower set of numbers is the s/n -- T21xxx).

My 1942 Faz markings look almost identical except the date looks like 7142 (7/42).

I added the following pictures as a comparison. Pic on the left is a '42 Faz and pic on the right is a '42 Maltby.