Questions about a 308 Lee Enfield

[samurighost]

I have a lee enfield with different markings and im trying to figure out what the rifle is. Its has the U.S. Property stamp on it but it has two markings on it that make it confusing. The first is No 4 MK 1/3 (F) FTR and the second one is No 5 MK 4. It looks like the second one is stamped but the first one looks like it was hand done....thoughts?

Thanks,

Philip

Information

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[Alan de Enfield]

Are you sure its a 308 ?

The US Property stamp means it was made by Savage and supplied to the Allies under the lend lese programme.

It started life as a No4 Mk1*
It subsequently went to the Fazakerly factory (Liverpool England) for a FTR (Factory thorough Repair - refubishment) and was bought up to the latest Mk2 standards.
It was then marked as a 'modified' Mk1* by changing the designation to "No4 Mk1/3" This was done with an 'electro pencil' and does look 'hand done'

The (F) FTR should be followed by a date - I have no idea what the NO5 Mk4 markings could be unless they are part of the date and you have misread them.

[samurighost]

the mag says that its in 7.62 so i am not %100 sure. There is also no date after the (F) FTR. Thats why this rifle confuses me a lot.

[gsimmons]

A picture is worth a thousand guesses, as someone on here so eloquently put it.

[wilesbd]

im pretty new to enfields but a possible lead on the 308 portion, a few months ago a trusted dealer that ive done business with often at one of local gun shows had a savage no4 also in 7.62, having never seen one before i asked about it, according to him years back there was a company that sold kits to convert them, came with a new barrel, magazines, some bolt barts, the rifle in question was marked 7.62 on the barrel, magazine and bolt head that i saw, other than the obviously different magazine(flatter bottom, not quite like the ishapore but close) it looked like a normal no4 in full military stock. i would check the barrel thou, most are marked either by the brits when the released them or by whoever imported them, maybe just be the wrong magazine one it.

[samurighost]

Does this help?

[Maxwell Smart]

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1041-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1042-1.jpg

Does this help?

Yes. Looks like normal markings for a No 4 Mk 1*, converted to the Mk 1/'3 hung trigger model. None of these markings would indicate current calibre of the rifle though.

The magazine is the 7.62 one from the Sterling conversion kit.

The marking which you believe to be " No 5 Mk 4" is the Savage "squared S" logo/mark, followed by No 4 Mk 1* model designation.

If this is a 7.62 conversion, it has not used the full range of the Sterling kit parts; there is no plunger ejector fitted, and the new charger bridge guide is absent.

[samurighost]

[QUOTE= If this is a 7.62 conversion, it has not used the full range of the Sterling kit parts; there is no plunger ejector fitted, and the new charger bridge guide is absent.[/QUOTE]

Ok if that is the case then how should I sell it? Im worried I will give people the wrong information and it could harm them. Ideas?

[Peter Laidler]

You really need to ascertain whether it's a Sterling 7.62mm conversion....., or ANY conversion first. Go and see a local dealer and ask him to tell you, and prove it by inserting a drill or dummy round into the chanber, exactly what calibre it is. On the face of it, it just LOOKS like a bog standard .303" No4 Mk1/3 with a Sterling magazine fitted

[samurighost]

well I tried a 308 and it fits perfectly and then tried the 303 and it did not....the dealer didnt know for sure as well as he never fired it. So then I guess I can assume its a Sterling conversion to 308 correct?