NO 4 MK1 (T) VERIFICATION

[Roger Payne]

Perhaps a reference to the Mk1 'Singer' rear-sights being obligatory rather than the Mk2 'battle sight'??

[RobD]

There's something about the engraved serial number font which looks a bit European, e.g. German... is it just me? Did the European nations e.g. Germany receive any No 4 (T)s after the war?

[Roger Payne]

Not sure about Germany Rob, but France, Belgium, Holland & Italy all received substantial numbers of Lee Enfields. Yes, it was the font of the engraving that first caught my eye, too.....

[Alan de Enfield]

The "fine adjustment backsight" reference is slightly odd, since it was simply a standard No.4 Rifle backsight!
A conscious or unconscious hold-over from the description of the No.3 MkI*(T) presumably.

Guesswork :

Maybe it was to ensure that they were only supplied with the Mk1 sight, rather than the MK2, 3 or 4 which may have been used at the time.

[TRAMO]

It did come through Ishapor at some point because it has the screw. could it have been FTR there?

[Roger Payne]

It's quite possible the number could have been freshened up there, although they more typically stamped them. But all is possible.

[Bindi2]

It did come through Ishapor at some point because it has the screw. could it have been FTR there?

The screw is a British thing, just the Indians did it more.
The Aussies did it as well and they used big bolts too.

[55recce]

It would be nice to get rid of the commonly held belief that screw = Ishapore. The brits did it but also used dowels.

Big ugly screw does equal ishy but not all screws.....

[TRAMO]

according to the Laidler and Skennerton book page 58 the rear sight on mine is correct . It appears to be Identicle to page 58.

[Roger Payne]

They generally came with 'Singer' rear sights manufactured actually by Singer in Scotland. They (Singer) used their initials followed by the last two digits of the date until later on in the war, & then their allocated factory code (but without the date). Being in Scotland they were in the Northern area, & were allocated manufacturer number 67. Hence you see sights on 4T's marked SM41, SM42 (in principle, can't actually remember seeing a 42), SM43, & N67. Obviously this doesn't generally apply to the Trials rifles made at Enfield, to Savage, or to Long Branch manufactured rifles. These were generally equipped with 'in house' manufactured Mk1 rear sights, although, with swapping of parts between the two factories in North America Long Branch rifles are commonly seen with Savage made rear sights.