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Legacy Member
Lee Enfield identification question
Hi, I am a new member and have some questions about dating the place and date of manufacture of a No. 4 Mk 2 303.
There are no markings on the barrel or action that indicate when or where made. On the LH side of the receiver are markings that were made with an electric vibrating engraving tool. Top line reads: No 4MK 2 (F). Second line is: 2/50 PF 177932. The "PF" is 'enclosed' in an open-ended box (open end towards the rest of what seems to be the serial number). This number is also engraved on the bottom of the magazine, which has an 'F' over a '47' on the cartridge follower.
Rifle is in excellent condition and seems to never have been fired. Virtually no 'dings' on the wood and bolt face is unmarked.
On butt stock behind trigger guard is "F50". Under that is a crown that is slightly defaced with a "I8" (as well as I could determine and under the crown a broad arrow and a "42".
The front stock also has (in the front) the serial number "PF 177932" stamped on the underside with a broad arrow over a '50' below it. To the rear of the barrel band on the underside of the stock is a crown above a broad arrow and a '28'.
I would welcome any advice I can get about the rifle. I have a Mk 111 made by BSA and a No 4 Mk 1 made by Long Branch, but the markings on the Mk 2 just confuse me.
Thanks, Garth
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01-17-2020 09:38 AM
# ADS
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Hello Garth, & welcome to the forum. I'm sorry I'm probably not the best person to respond but as nobody else has yet taken the bait, I will! Your rifle was made at the Royal Ordnance Factory Fazackerley, which is in Liverpool, UK. Their markings are typically shallow, & made with electric pencils (apart from on earlier WW2 rifles, where they were stamped). The 2/50 indicates that the rifle was built in February 1950, & the various 'F' markings on components indicate Fazackerley manufacture. The markings situated under the crowns are probably examiner's identifying marks, but the digits after the letters 'F' generally indicate the year of manufacture of that particular part. The PF prefixed serial number is also appropriate for a post WW2 Fazackerley produced rifle.
Hope this helps a little.
Last edited by Roger Payne; 01-22-2020 at 12:40 PM.
Reason: addendum
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Legacy Member
Pictures would make it very easy to decide.
Sounds like one of the ex SADF rifles sold to members before the new government took over. Should have a bayonet with it.
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Legacy Member
Thanks for the help. I agree that it was probably ex-SADF stock that was never issued, but the dealer I bought it from probably kept the bayonet. I was a bit confused since I was accustomed to the war-time numbering that usually had 5 digits (plus prefix if needed) but this number was 6 digits - I have since learned that this was typical of post-war models.
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