Irish Contract Enfield question.

[Alan de Enfield]

Its an oddity.
'56 was when they changed over to the new numbering, and the UF A**** numbering, so the A**** number could be right and because its a low number and a new system, the lazy scouser forgot the UF prefix......
But, that wouldn't account for the FTR stamping.....apart from its Faz

You'd have thought that, even Fazakerley, after almost 9,000 rifles, would be able to get the serial number prefix correct !

Information

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[Lee Enfield]

It appears to be all matching. Bolt, receiver and magazine all have the serial number engraved on them. All components appear original though I haven’t taken the time yet to cross check every stamp. I see no evidence of any markings being removed or re-stamped. It appears to be a “new” first run rifle, not a “FTR”. I am by no means an expert but every FTR rifle I’ve seen has some evidence of its previous life.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...007994_z-1.jpg

Does it have the cut-off block on the right side of the receiver?
If it does not, my theory is that Faz did not have contracts for new production, but did have contract for FTR.

Is the left side the straight 45* angle shelf?

[Lance]

As new rifle production came to an end, ROF Fazakerley made a run of at least 23,000 new "FTR" Mk 2 rifles in 1956-57 (possibly 1958?). They all lack the cutt off block on the body showing they were new production bodies however not all the parts installed on the rifles were "new", some were seconds or were taken from the real FTR program that finished in 1958. The FTR marking gave Fazakerley a way to get rid of leftover stock new bodies without the need of using all new manufacture parts.

[Sapper740]

I dug up Charles Stratton Volume 2 Lee Enfield No. 4 and No.5 rifles. According to his book Fazakerley stopped making new No.4 Mk 2 rifles in 1955. They also placed the month of manufacture ahead of the year. Serial number prefix PF from 1948 to 1954:
1948 - PF 22xxx to PF 68xxx
1949 - PF 68xxx to PF 139xxx
1950 - PF 184xxx to PF 223xxx
1951 - PF 228xxx
1952 - PF 231xxx to PF 263xxx
1953 - PF 264xxx to PF 309xxx
1954 - PF 314xxx to PF 376xxx
1955 - UF 55Axxx to UF 55A 21xxx

You have to go all the way back to 1942 to see an 'A' prefix. I'm not sure how a No.4 Mk 2 got an 'A' prefix, at least it's not covered in the book.

[Low & Slow]

This came out of the wrapper. Doesn't seem to match the serial date listing shown. Left over bits perhaps?

[Low & Slow]

Sorry, not trying to hijack the OP's question, just questioning the serial/ date listing.

[Daan Kemp]

Interesting, the loop on the trigger guard on a 1955 No4 Mk 2 production.