1916 BSA No I MkIII* Fianna Fail Lee Enfield.

[Anzac15]

Hello all, new to this forum, and had a question regarding a Fianna Fail Lee Enfield I've just purchased. There is a marking on the barrel, FB23. Have never seen this before. Is this unique to Irish Free State rifles? Any help would be appreciated. BTW, I am technologically challenged, it will be awhile before I can find out how to post pics! Thanks!

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

FB23 is the Firth Brown steel batch number.................

[Badger]

To learn more about about how to handle pics, please read this thread in the Q&A - Help Forums, which also appears as a "sticky" thread at the top of every forum on the site.

How do I upload pictures to my posts for storage on milsurps.com? (click here)

If you still have problems, email them to me at badger@milsurps.com and I'll re-size them for you, then post them in the thread under your name

As to your question …

Member Ingstrt published in an old thread from 2009 (click here) a pic of his 1916 Enfield Mk III which has the Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel) marked on top of the knox form and receiver, as well as the FB23 (Firth Brown steel batch number) that Peter referred to. Does yours have that FF marking there?



Although not a SMLE, the FF marking also appeared on other rifles. If you check the MKL and with thanks to Advisory Panel members Lance and Wheaty, there's an entry in the England section complete with a 182 picture photo montage.

No.3 MkI* (T) Rifle (BSA Scope) (click here)
c/w matching Model 1918 (3x) Scope Serial #226763 (Mfg by B.S.A Guns)

This is one of only 79 rifles converted by B.S.A Guns, contracted between July 27, 1935 and completed by Dec 9, 1938. The scope and rifle are "all matching" with "all correct" fonts and markings for collector comparisons.

All those specimens noted from the B.S.A. contract have had the Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel) on the back of the left rear telescope mount, so it would appear that these sniper rifles were assembled for an Irish contract.

Irish Free State marking (Fianna Fiel)


(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug

[Anzac15]

That's great! Many thanks!