Long Branch No4T Butt Socket Marking

[Peter Laidler]

I don't think it'll be a steel batch mark simply because they mark the steel batch in a place that has been machined very early on in the machining process. That way the ID number is not lost further along the various proceses. What's the point of marking it at the very end, after the final finish? You'd never be certain that the steel batch related to that item.

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[Lee Enfield]

I don't think it'll be a steel batch mark simply because they mark the steel batch in a place that has been machined very early on in the machining process. That way the ID number is not lost further along the various proceses. What's the point of marking it at the very end, after the final finish? You'd never be certain that the steel batch related to that item.

No idea what the actual meaning was then, but most war-time Long Branch No4 rifles have an "alpha numeric" marking in this approximate location.

I would note that FN L1A1 bolts and Bolt carriers have "Steel batch number" markings in machined areas which are supposedly traceable?

I popped down into the lockup and looked at:
1- 1941 no marking
1- 1942 Alpha numeric code
1- 1943 no marking
3- 1944 (1 No4T, 2 No4) each (different) Alpha Numeric markings
2-1945 (1 No4T, 1 No4) Alpha Numeric markings
1-1949 letter no code number (could be a poorly struck CA marking??)
1- 1950 CA stamp, no code
1- 1954 postwar CA and "webbed crowfoot/rolled maple leaf" proof marking, no alpha code

[stencollector]

The same alpha numeric code is found on stens from Canadian service that were parkerized in the grey colour. It doesn't matter if it was a Cdn built sten, or a Brit built sten, once it went through refinishing (possibly a rebuild?) it got those numbers. Usually it was on the magwell, but it could also be found on the trigger housing.

I cannot say if the number reflects an inspector's number or if it is a batch/work order number. My own guess is an inspector's number.