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  1. #1
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    Sterling MK 4 with S Serial number

    I got a Sterling yesterday and i wonder which country it has been serving .The body is phosphated and it looks like there has never been paint on . I allways thought all the commercial sterlings have the wrinkle finish . It was made in 1973 and the barrel made by Sterling also .The trigger unit is made by ROF but it could be a replacement . It is the first Sterling with an S serialnumber i got anyway except the Mk 5 .If the first 1600 S serialnumbers have been used for the Mk 5 , this Sterling must be a realy early one ....











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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Nothing unusual there I'm happy to say.......... Sterling serial numbers started again with an 'S' when James Edmiston bought theSterling factory.

    There is a good little book out, all about the Sterling and Lanchester SMG's called The Guns From Dagenham. It's all in there......

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    thank you Peter . I had a look in your book already . i just wondered about the surface . Maybe the coating was taken off? I saw some pictures with Sterlings captured in Iraq which looked similar .

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    I can't answer for the current finish but without exception (UKicon MoD excepted of course....,.), all Sterling guns were crackle black finish over phosphate. The 960-2211 on the sear is the last part of the part number while the S4/4/ etc etc on the front barrel bearing is the Sterling drawing number.

    Incidentally, you'll notice that the actual serial number is engraved VERY deep. This was a requirement of the UK Board of Trade so that any attempt to grind out, cover or conceal the serial number would be obvious. The serial numb er was engraved onto the gun BEFORE the last two weld/braze operations. Because once the serial number was applied, then the casing became a strictly controlled/accountable item. By doing the last couple of operations AFTER the numbering meant that if someone stole a casing JUST before it was numbered (when it wasn't tightly controlled - except on an 'amount-of' basis don't forget) it was useless.

    Hope that you enjoyed reading the book

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    Thank you for the extra information . Yes i enjoyed reading the book . It already helped me a lot with my other Sterlings .

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    Are you allowed them in Germanyicon? Surely not!

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    this Sterling must be a realy early one ....
    Didn't the S serial numbers come after the KR numbers,, making them late in the production run?

    And while we are talking about S numbers, what is reverse S about?

    Attachment 42360

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    Lucky you ... in Bielefeld! Now let me know your secret so that I can get one here in Berlin ... please!

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    Not a reverse S but a bad figure 2

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    That would make it a very high serial number. What year would S 24679 have been produced in? The last year listed in your book is 1974, serial numbers S 8673 to S 11067.

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