A study of No.4 Mk.I "Trials" rifles: information requested!

[Surpmil]

It's a VERY early rifle built at Fazakerly(? on a leftover trials body (receiver).

The simplified cocking piece is very unusual, and we wouldn't expect to see a Long Branch pressed safety catch spring either on such a rifle AFAIK.

However the finish is a close match, so perhaps they have been together for a long time. The screw is different from the standard as well.

I see the Enfield "D/E" hybrid mark on the safety catch and that is what we would expect on such a rifle.

Does it have the "waisted" foresight protector, hinged upper band and other such trials rifle features?

[Jim Shortill]

Here is the link from Gunbroker. I'm not in buying mode, but figured I would pass it on for knowledge sake. It has many of the trials rifle features. I've been super busy at work so I haven't had time to get my geek on, and go through my reference books.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1066819771

[Surpmil]

Forget most of what I said in #83 which was based on the previous statement that the backsight had a ball-bearing detent: it doesn't.

The machining on the receiver is also too rough to be RSAF(E).

Does have a "trials" safety though.

[Jim Shortill]

I did notice it had the plunger and not the ball indent. That's why I was thinking it might be one of the later C pattern. So what's your thought on the rifle? A high number trials that was mostly rebuilt? Do any of the others rifle number identifiers (on on other trials rifles) - A XXXX - come with a prefix / suffix letter like this one?

[Surpmil]

My opinion is it's an early receiver from Fazackerly, the A suffix serial indicates this, but rough as guts overall and definitely NOT a trials receiver.

The No.5 trigger guard doesn't "belong" on an early rifle, and the cocking piece was probably stuck on in order to make it look superficially interesting by whoever sanded the wood down and generally massaged the rifle before it was put in the auction.

Aside from the safety, there is a chance the mag might be a trials example, from the level of finishing overall, but one would have to see rib and platform for the marks if any.

FUGLY importer marks as the crowning glory.

[Lance]

Your rifle serial number is really "EA23074A" with the last 4 hard to read, made at ROF Fazakerley in June 1943. Sorry, it is not an early rifle. If you look off-axis just below the backsight above the safety catch arm you might see "ROF(F)6/43"

[Jim Shortill]

Thanks for the insight.
Sorry for the delay. Tore my bicep and had both daughters cars go down at once. Been a week of slow repairs.

And yes, that import mark is a truly horrific scar.