No. 5 Mk1 markings???

[Ed42]

Hi all!!!
I wish I could post pics but I’m in Tennessee and my rifle is currently in Kentucky. I did an inventory of markings on my No.5 Mk1 a few nights ago and have a couple of questions for the experts.


First marking is on the bottom of the wooden forestock just below the rifle’s serial number is stamped 6 then a D inside a diamond then a 2. Any thoughts?

Second is ..on the rear of the magazine (which is serially the same as the rifle) is F which I assume is Fazakerly and then a broad arrow over D. What is the broad arrow over D? Australian Defence Department??

Third is on the top of the milled rear sight is an N67 or a No. 7. Thoughts?

And lastly, the left rail of the rear sight is a B. What is the B?



I have Mr. Skennerton’s book on the way but I’m anxious to know these marks!! Cheers!!!

[Alan de Enfield]

And lastly, the left rail of the rear sight is a B. What is the B?

BSA

N67

N67 is a 'secret' subcontractor code for Singer Manufacturing (of sewing machine fame)

A post I made some years ago on another forum ........................

History of Wartime Factory Codes


Prior to WW2 Germany were (obviously) aware of what was going to happen and they sent 1000's of Hitler Youth (as fruit pickers, walkers / hikers, students) to the UK to map and list everything that could be a military target, Railway stations, airports. reservoirs, manufacturing companies, steel works, water pumping stations, power stations, etc etc etc. They were also instructed to buy any, and every, map they could find, from Survey maps to tourist guides to the AA Road maps.

There was a very interesting documentary series on TV some years ago which covered it in detail

These sites were all mapped out back in Germany so Germany knew exactly the location of all factories capable of building war material, but - did not know what they were actually making.

When the bombing started someone realised that the Germans would know exactly where (say) the BSA factory was, and if any soldiers were captured carrying rifles marked BSA then the Germans knew where it was & could bomb it out of existence.

To help disguise who was making what the country was split into 3 parts :

North = Code N
Midlands = Code M
South = Code S

All factories were given a number and depending on their location would have the prefix N. M or S

So, BSA became M47 (Factory number 47 in the Midlands)

About the same time the instruction came down that manufacturers must disperse their production, as one bomb on one factory could stop production totally.

BSA opened several new dispersal factories (these factories were sub-factories to the main M47 factory) making all sorts of components, which were then brought together at a single assembly factory.

We now have :
M47 (Mother factory)

and daughter plants based out in the areas surrounding Birmingham

M47A = ‘Small Heath’ factory
M47B = ‘Redditch’ factory
M47C = ‘Shirley’ factory


Example : M47A produced the 'woodwork' (RIfle furniture) whilst M47C was the final assembly plant for the Lee Enfield Rifles.

There is a little bit of history for you.

[Ed42]

Thank you Alan de Enfield!!! Great history!!!!

I just found another mystery to me. On the underside of the butt stock right behind the trigger guard is stamped F over 66 over M over 17. Any ideas.

Regarding the rear sight and your history, I guess I have a BSA installed rear Singer sight on my Fazakerly rifle then???

[tiriaq]

The rear sight is calibrated to 800y?