My best No. 5

[Beerhunter]

The rifle above doesn't seem to be a candidate for "Factory Repair", unless it was something minor.

Although 'oil blackened' was not a standard finish out of the factory.

[jmoore]

That's true for large parts on Enfields. But early US '03s and previous did utilize that "finish" on receivers. I'm thinking that this No.5 is wearing it's factory finish, though, whatever it is. Looks like it might be Suncorite or similar, but can't be sure from the phtos.

[drweiler]

Perhaps it is suncorite and I just assumed oil blackened. Most of my suncorite finished Enfields are obvious due to that paint flaking wear appearance. Are the post war No.4Mk2's suncorite? If so I have a '54' 'Irish contract' in the wrap and a like new AF55, I could compare the finish to. Thanks, Don

That's true for large parts on Enfields. But early US '03s and previous did utilize that "finish" on receivers. I'm thinking that this No.5 is wearing it's factory finish, though, whatever it is. Looks like it might be Suncorite or similar, but can't be sure from the phtos.

[gsimmons]

Suncorite was a post war finish. A different type of paint was used on sten guns etc. during the war. As Peter Laidler says if it went through the workshops it was phosphated and painted.

[Brian Dick]

Not quite so Gary. It's original because the markings were engraved after finishing. It's the original Suncorite 259 over phosphate, (Parkerizing). It became the standard finish for British small arms in 1944 starting with the Sten Mk.5 and was used on everything until just a couple of years ago when it became obsolete in MoD service.

[Peter Laidler]

Looking at that No5 from an Armourers point of view, I could just tell, at the outset, that when that rifle had gone past the bead blasting operator, into the phos. tanks and through the spray/bake ovens, the designation and serial number would have been obliterated! There'd be maybe twenty of them now numberless so we'd be sifting through the AFG1045 paperwork trying to identify serial numbers to re-stamp or engrave on the bodies.

You can see what I mean................... 100 rifles will go INTO the workshop system and 100 will come OUT but whether they come out with the same serial number that they went IN with, is quite another matter. Fazakerley No4's, 5's Stens and Sterlings at their best! The best of all were the Sterling made Sterling SMG's where the number was engraved about 1" deep and strangely, Owen guns where the number was stamped by an 8' tall gorilla wielding a hammer and a set of number stamps

[Thunderbox]

I'm willing to bet that that painted "FR" is brother to the "FR" stamped in woodwork, and is nothing to do with FTR/factory repair at all.....

[Mag Fed]

I'm willing to bet that that painted "FR" is brother to the "FR" stamped in woodwork, and is nothing to do with FTR/factory repair at all.....

Agreed, then what about "Field Repair" ?? Perhaps something much more minor was repaired ?

[jmoore]

I'm willing to bet that that painted "FR" is brother to the "FR" stamped in woodwork, and is nothing to do with FTR/factory repair at all.....

Better stated than my earlier post, but given the overall good condition of this example, I begin to wonder if it isn't posibly the marking applied by a post-service arms dealer. Hence the "Fred Roberts". Odd that it hasn't shown up in the EMERs or other official documents.

[Thunderbox]

Better stated than my earlier post, but given the overall good condition of this example, I begin to wonder if it isn't posibly the marking applied by a post-service arms dealer. Hence the "Fred Roberts". Odd that it hasn't shown up in the EMERs or other official documents.

Its exactly what I think:

I am sure that "FR" was an identification mark used by some surplus dealer or agency - or a disposals inspector - during the late 50s to 1960s. I think its a designation of new and used rifles, and new contract woodwork, that were set aside for export orders and surplus sales. Probably the mark was used to differentiate items selected out from the mountains of surplus in the various government depots. This would explain the "FR" on all that Pakistani wood that appears to be UK-made, and the many, many apparently mint or un-repaired rifles that appear with "FR" stamped or painted on the butt.

I wonder if there is anyone still around from UK Interarms who might be able to shed light on this?