Enfield No8 gets a new home

[bigduke6]

Thanks all, concerning the civilian No8 reading the article on the link below the civilian rifles were void of any military markings and had only the serial number plus they had a drum fitted to the underside of the butt for sight elements, finish was also supposedly better ( Peter also gets a mention as his notes are Re-printed there .....) for anybody who collects trainers or .22 rifles whilst browsing the the link have a look at the Leauges in the top right corner, its a postal league that may be of interest to a few...

Lee-Enfield Rifle No.8 for the British Forces


Simon a No7 and No9 are on the list.....

Brian having a bit more time and the temp hopefully rising in the near future most of the projects I,ve put on hold will get the dust blown off them (just too cold in the workshop at present).


Give it a run out last night and can't fault it apart the person behind it.... also anybody know if the butt pad was a standard BSA item ?

[Simon P]

Got the No7 last year, and it still had its RAF tag on , on the down side it was missing its magazine, but have access to an original to copy.

[Buccaneer]

I recently aquired a No8 that I assumed was a "parts " rifle as it does not have any service serial number, the butt socket is marked CR32 above m/470 and is dated 1952.
The forend barrel band is marked CR320 TORBINIA 1972 and the action is electro pencil etched .22 No8 Mk.I It is in excellent condition and has the correct CR313 harmonized rear sight.
I was unaware the any No8's had been made for the civilian market could this be one or was I right with my first thoughts that it is just a parts rifle??
I can post pictures if required but did not see the point at the moment.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Right at the end of the text linked here...

Lee-Enfield Rifle No.8 for the British Forces

... you will find the following:
"A British correspondent domiciled in Germany has advised us that his old service issue No.8 will still shoot a one-and-a-half-inch group at 100 yards, so don't be too quick to blame one of these rifles for a poor shoot!"

Guess who that was!
(dig around, I posted a target once upon a time)

As small-bore training/cadet rifles No. 8s are THE BEST!

[bigduke6]

I recently aquired a No8 that I assumed was a "parts " rifle as it does not have any service serial number, the butt socket is marked CR32 above m/470 and is dated 1952.
The forend barrel band is marked CR320 TORBINIA 1972 and the action is electro pencil etched .22 No8 Mk.I It is in excellent condition and has the correct CR313 harmonized rear sight.
I was unaware the any No8's had been made for the civilian market could this be one or was I right with my first thoughts that it is just a parts rifle??
I can post pictures if required but did not see the point at the moment.

Paul, pics are always good .... with the markings you mention then would assume it military, is the floor plate marked in the mag recess ? did you look at the one on Rifleman.org.uk ? its got a serial number but thats all, (from what I can make out) Looking through a spares box have got one of the bands you mention also a few strikers and some rear sights.

I,m on the look out for the original fore sight protector if anyone has one?

[Peter Laidler]

I don't think that any were made for the civillian/Commercial market as the patents were wholly owned by the War Department and Ministry of Supply. I dare say that many were sold off via the Small Bore Rifle Association or MoD disposals in the past.

Torbina was the trade name of a small parts maker/supplier in the past. I seem to think that they were a subsidiary to the old British Rail at York. If the rifle doesn't (?) have a serial number, then it was very probably a Fazakerley made! BUT as yours says M47, then it must be BSA but Fazakerley were notorious for illegible or lost numbers. You can occasionally see both BSA and F over engraved with a UE76Axxxx number or a SA78Axxxx number where the original is illegible

[bigduke6]

I don't think that any were made for the civillian/Commercial market as the patents were wholly owned by the War Department and Ministry of Supply. I dare say that many were sold off via the Small Bore Rifle Association or MoD disposals in the past.

Torbina was the trade name of a small parts maker/supplier in the past. I seem to think that they were a subsidiary to the old British Rail at York. If the rifle doesn't (?) have a serial number, then it was very probably a Fazakerley made! BUT as yours says M47, then it must be BSA but Fazakerley were notorious for illegible or lost numbers. You can occasionally see both BSA and F over engraved with a UE76Axxxx number or a SA78Axxxx number where the original is illegible

I was just going by the write up on the Rifleman.org.uk site, and the three mentioned that were held at The Enfield Pattern Room collection