Request for serial #/dates on FE serial # Fazakerley No.5 Mk1 rifles

[breakeyp]

Between January 1944 and March 1944, Fazakerley produced 1020 No.5 Mk1 rifles for trials and project development. Serial number and date produced progression do not follow. For example January 1944 rifle is number FE721 but FE90 is dated 2/44. I therefore do not expect any revelations with serial numbers but the other puzzling thing is a change in nomenclature stamped on the receiver. From the attached photographs it can be seen that early production receivers had a single address line with the serial number electro-penciled on the left socket. Later production? had a two line address which included the serial number. Can you provide this information, date, serial (FE ??x is fine) and whether single or double line address? PM is fine. My intent is to use this information in an article on the No.5 FE. Thank you.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Something is visaibly not quite right with the first photo marking it seems to me Paul. Maybe it's the camera or angles BUT....... The actual body of the rifle looks to be well battered and used, scraped and dinged - you know the sort of fair wear and tear - and you can actually SEE the scuff marks and dings. But it has been painted over those marks leaving them clearly visible under the paint. But the rifle designation has been engrave/etched AFTER the application of this paint.

This leads me to think that this rifle has been manufactured and finished as per usual, used for some trials/testing etc etc, then returned to the factory, given a quick blow job with the paint gun and THEN engraved/etched.

[Gil Boyd]

After many years in the Police in this specific area, it does look as if the current characters and structures of the letters have been either added or poorly constructed before being "Re etched", but certainly not struck as would be the case in providing identification of a specific rifle at the time.
For example the 4 looks like an after thought, but as you say Peter, it could be the light or my eyes Certainly not normally sized characters used for the testing house, but hey ho, who am I? It would be great to see it in it my hands and do some tests, but in short, something not right and there could be a reasonable explanation for it.

[breakeyp]

Comments regarding poor finish are accurate as the rifle in question came out of India with the transverse forestock screw. I am more concerned with type of marking and location than condition. Attached is a new condition rifle with the same markings.

I have five, most in new condition, FE's with the single line address and two with the two line address. Hence my interest in how FE's were marked.

[Lance]

There is an early 3/44 on Gunbroker right now for comparison, no FE in the s/n just "46", photo's are not great but I hope it helps.

British Enfield NO. 5 Jungle Carbine Serial #46 : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

[breakeyp]

Thanks Lance. This would be one from the start of actual production. I suspect the seller will have it for a long time.

[Gil Boyd]

That does probably confirm my reasoning on the stamping of the number 4 at the end, which was also not done well on your rifle, and the text does look similar in its construction, so all looks good, as a genuine run on the production