Need Help Identifying a No.4 Mk2

[728shooter]

Yup, it is an Indian depot repair, 50x depot in 7 -68(?) someone sanded it down prior to coating the stock.

Frederick, Thanks for this information!

As I understand this, the No4-Mk2 rifles were of new manufacture by Fazakerley (this one in 1953?), and this one at some point in time ended up in India. Then it was repaired and/or refurbished at Indian Depot 50X around 1968? Is it safe to assume that the only repairs made may have been limited to the stock since all the metal parts seem to be original with no strike-through or over-stamps of markings? The barrel appears to be original to the rifle and looks to be in excellent condition -- should be a good shooter at least...

Figure I'll start stripping her down in a few weeks to get all the varnish off & undo what "Bubba" did (can't do any harm at this point, right?) At least I can make it look more presentable...

Thanks again, --728shooter

[Seaspriter]

Looks like hand stamped No4 Mk2

Any idea how/why the electro-penciled serial number, date, and No4 Mk2 were eradicated and then a hand stamping done on the receiver?

[CINDERS]

Why does bubba love gloss varnish on things I have never worked that lot out, a bit of work and strip it back some sessions of BLO and she's apples again

[ssj]

Bolt looks like its been replaced?

---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 PM ----------

sights look to have been replaced?

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

C with arrow head picture 2 is a canadian acceptance mark?

---------- Post added at 09:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 PM ----------

Any idea how/why the electro-penciled serial number, date, and No4 Mk2 were eradicated and then a hand stamping done on the receiver?

Maybe it was faint and it got restamped? Since its not a serial number I assume its genuine.

Can we have some more pics? bolt, mag (top and bottom), Trigger guard

[Peter Laidler]

Do we really need more pictures and info? We know exactly what it is now surely! It's a Faz/ROF-6 made No4 Mk2 that's been to India, been through a Base workshop, rebuilt and come out with assorted parts after having been fitted in the Armourers shop and come out of there a bit of a hybrid but still basically a No4 Mk2. Just like we have been doing for 100 years.

In the UK we would never ever stamp a body side except for the T at the rear. Any stamping would be at the butt socket

[728shooter]

I'll try and take some more pics of the bolt, magazine, sights, trigger-group and perhaps the whole stock this next week.

--728shooter

[Peter Laidler]

Er.........., what additional info will that tell us? Just a thought!

[ssj]

Its no biggee, just as that serial number range is unknown as to where it went so I am very curious.

[Seaspriter]

just as that serial number range is unknown as to where it went so I am very curious.

I'm curious too. Unknown buyer? Serial numbers removed? Indian rework years later? Ian Fleming are you reading this post?

[Peter Laidler]

The designation and serial numbers were almost scratched on Fazakerley weapons and were a constant pain in Quartermasters bottoms because of this. They were the main culprit for '....lost or otherwise missing or obscure serial numbers' encountered by Armourers. Once through the bead blaster and they'd be lost - especially through an Indian workshop bead blaster. Sten guns, Sterling SMG's No 4 and 8 rifles......, Fazakerley were notorious!

No secrets there Sea spriter........ 150 rifles go into workshops, Rifles stripped and bead blasted, nomenclature and number obliterated on some so you go to the 1098 workshop paperwork, find 'lost' serial numbers and re-engrave or stamp - as they've done here!

I mention the paper trail that relates to exactly this sequence of events with ROF/6 weapons with scratchy-pen serial numbers on an earlier thread.