My Mystery Enfield

[Newf]

I have acquired a No. 4 Mk 1 (I believe) which I saved from "Bubba." She has no bolt and is missing her furniture on top and the front portion on the bottom, no barrel bands and no rabbit ears. The barrel is intact, though and the rifling - after a good cleaning - seems quite salvagable.
What has me stumped is the fact that there are no manufacturers stamps on the left side of the receiver....NONE. I don't believe they've been ground off, unless it was done a very long time ago. They're just not there.
The wrist band has 1944 stamped on it, the letter "k" and the serial no is 36xxx. There are proof marks near the muzzle and Brit marks on top of the receiver. The letters "ZF" are stamped into the right side of the butt and "HQ 40" on the portion of the brass butt plate that overlaps the butt.
She's a little rusty and tired looking right now, but some day I plan to have her as pretty as when she was new.
Would anyone out there have any clues as to her pedigree as well as suggestions on where to begin looking for parts?

Thanks.

P.S. If this post is more suitable elsewhere on this forum, I apologize, I'm new here.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[stencollector]

ZF was the condition code applied to condemned equipment (guns) in the British service.

I was just dong an inventory on my Enfields this morning and also was wondering about a similar unmarked rifle. Just like yours, I have the date, and a serial number, but nothing visible identifying the manufacturer. When I get around to stripping it down, I'll see if there are any hidden marks.


Someone told me that there is an entry on the firearms ref table which lists "unknown" as the manufacturer for rifles like these.

[Newf]

Condemned, eh? That doesn't sound good.

[Claven2]

36XXX is a BSA serial number, FWIW.

[Newf]

What horrible offense would a war-time rifle have to commit to get condemned? Is this thing worth fixing up or is it better used as a tomato stake?

[stencollector]

I got the ZF information from one of the chapters in "the guns of Dagenham", which is on the Sterling SMG. It does not go into a lot of detail as to whether the gun would have been condemned for a reason, or merely obsolete.

If the gun has the commercial proof marks, then it is likely OK. I would think a British proof house would not be putting there stamp onto faulty guns.

[tiriaq]

I have seen No. 4s with very faint electropenciled markings on the receiver wall. Wear, tear, refinishing could easily eliminate them.

[Jean]

Many of the guns that were refinished in India had most if not all markings removed.

[Newf]

Thanks for all your feedback gentlemen. Would there be marks to indicate an Indian refinish?
Is there a good source for spare parts to get her up and running again?

[Pete04]

I think if it were refurbished in India it will have an "Ishpoore screw". Other guys can better explain what that is, or you can find referrence to it on this site.

Here and CanadianGunNutz.com are both good sources for parts and knowledge
Pete