1941 Faz (MkVI Body)

[Brian Dick]

Troy, My memory stinks but i looked it up in my import book. I imported it in December 2007. I do remember it as a genuine Enfield No.1Mk.VI but had seen some upgrades to No.4Mk.1 specification early on during the war years. Brian

---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:47 PM ----------

Something that strikes me is the "under water in New Orleans" statement. Hmmm, just long enough to blend the new machining into the old maybe?? I hate to be a skeptic but.....

[tlvaughn]

After reading all of the posts again, I realized I forgot to mention that I do not think this was ever a real MkVI rifle, I was assuming it was an unfinished MkVI receiver that was shipped to Faz in 1940-41 to be completed to No4 MkI specifications. What I was not sure about is the marking on the butt socket - No1 MKVI. Below are a few pictures from a thread on this forum from a few years ago.

Note the markings on the butt socket are different, but the font looks to be the same. It is also interesting that the s/n is 27899A, the one Brian imported is 27808A, and mine is 27639A (all within 260 rifles).

I'm leaning toward an unfinished receiver shipped to Faz for completion.

If anybody would like additional pictures, let me know what you want to see and I will get them posted.

BTW, the seller was not trying to pass it off as a MkVI nor sell it at the going price for a MkVI. I was able to get it for the price of an above average No4 MkI.

[Surpmil]

If I had to guess I would say that it was left over or reject body; probably for that nasty grinding job on the charger bridge, that was dug out and recycled. What else would explain such an "ugly"? If someone were making a fake, why would they leave such a defect or use an action that had such?

' Don't make no sense to me, guvnor!

As for the "No1 MkVI" stamping, since plenty of those bodies had come through Fazackerly to be finished, some obviously already stamped with their markings (are such not known?) my guess would be the bloke with the stamps did the logical thing and stamped it as he'd seen the others, until told to do otherwise, perhaps somewhat later?

And if the mag cutoff screw hole is drilled and tapped that would seal it for me, simple soul that I am!

[Roger Payne]

I'm inclined to agree with Surpmil. It's not an area I can claim to know a lot about but I gather a significant quantity of Enfield parts were sent to Faz when they commenced production, & I would think it highly likely some of these were only partially finished. Indeed I used to own a Faz 1941 marked No4 built on an ex-Trials body which I suspect came about in the same way. (It now belongs to another UK dealer). I very much doubt that this rifle has been intentionally 'faked'.

ATB