Somewhat confused no4 irish contract rifle still in the wrapper serial number A15222

[ssj]

Except baal had such a numbered gun and this is now the 3rd I have seen / read about in NZ.

Think I'll go along on the Friday evening just to look at the wrapper for clues.

[Bindi2]

Why do you think it is a Irish rifle. Being in a wrap dose not automatically mean it is a Irish contract one. There are many rifles outside the Irish contract range in wraps or have been.

[Frederick303]

From what I have heard from folks who were at the final packaging of the irish rifle sales in 1997 (bought by century and sent to Canada), each rifle was taken out of the box (5 PER BOX) and the paper slit open on the left side of the action body to check the serial number. This was done under the supervison of an officer. Only after each serial number was verifed were the rifles shipped.

If the rifle has a fully closed wrap, that is no slit on the left side of the action, it is likely that it came out of UK stores and not Ireland, at least not the final batch of new in wrap rifles shipped out in 1997.

[Seaspriter]

to check the serial number

Frederick, it's my guess that you have a listing of all the UF-55 & UF-56 serial numbers and the contracting buyers. You've probably posted this listing or know where it's posted. Could you lead us to that listing if it exists?
Thanks, Robert

[ssj]

Go back, it isnt a UF or PF rifle, it is a Axxxxx No4 mk2.

Here are the notes I have collected on the mk2s.

=======
It is believed that the first batch of 100,000 MK2's were numbered :
PF 118000 PF 217999

Following on from this initial batch were three fairly small batches :
PF 218000 PF 219799 (1800)
PF 219799 PF 275947 (56,148)
PF 225948 PF 250947 ( 25,000)

In 1951/52 they started producing the 'contact rifles' - there is a huge list of rifles by country but here are the first few (including the infamous 'Irish Contract'

PF 250948 PF 301547 British Army
PF 301548 PF 304047 Sudanese Order
PF 304048 PF 309347 N/Known
PF 309348 PF 359347 Irish Republic (50,000 rifles so why all the interest ??)
PF 359348 PF 359747 N/Known
PF 359748 PF 359817 Zambia

If you really want a 'rare one' forget the Irish contract and get one of these :
PF411462-PF411471 Hong Kong (10 rifles)


Last MkI on file - 4/1949 PF97096

First Mk2 on file - 5/1949 PF100412


I bought an Enfield No4 MK 2 this week at a gun shop for $300. It is 1/55 PF 3402xx


PF301548-PF304047 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
PF309348-PF359347 Irish Republic
PF359748-PF359817 Zambia
PF359818-PF359952 Singapore
PF359953-PF360052 Jamaica
PF360053-PF360202 Trinidad
PF360203-PF360238 St. Vincent
PF360239-PF360258 St. Kitts
PF360259-PF360459 War Office
PF360460-PF381159 Uganda
PF361160-PF361259 Parker Hale
PF361260-PF401086 Burma
PF401087-PF401459 Allocated for T conversion
PF404157-PF404206 Parker Hale
PF405393-PF405412 St. Vincent
PF405513-PF405712 Admiralty contract
PF405813-PF405848 Fulton
PF407649-PF407648 Trinidad
PF407649-PF407728 Zanzibar
PF411229-PF411264 Fulton
PF411265-PF411461 Kenya
PF411462-PF411471 Hong Kong


Looking at the large number of late Mk1s/early Mk2s coming out of South Africa with govt property stamps on them, perhaps we can pencil in PF 100000 as the first Mk2, and PF 100000 to - say - PF 120000 as "South Africa"......?

PF 100000 PF 120000 South Africa?
PF 118000 PF 217999 N/K 100,000 Start of Mk II Production.
PF 218000 PF 219799 N/K 1800
PF 219799 PF 275947 N/K 56,148
PF 225948 PF 250947 N/K 25,000

Circa 1951/52

PF 250948 PF 301547 British Army 50,600
PF 301548 PF 304047 Sudanese Order 2499
PF 304048 PF 309347 N/K 5300
PF 309348 PF 359347 Irish Republic 49,999?
PF 359348 PF 359747 N/K 400
PF 359748 PF 359817 Zambia 469
PF 359818 PF 359852 Singapore 34
PF 359953 PF 360052 Kingston 99
PF 360053 PF 360202 Trinidad 149
PF 360203 PF 360238 St Vincent 35
PF 360239 PF 360258 St Kitts 19
PF 360259 PF 360459 War Office? 200
(21 missing numbers)
PF 360480 PF 361159 Uganda 679
PF 361160 PF 361259 Parker Hale 99
PF 361028 10/53
PF 361280 PF 401086 Burma 39,806
PF 401087 PF 401495 No 4 (T) Rifles ? 408
PF 401496 PF 404156 N/K 2661
PF 401157 PF 404206 Parker Hale 3049
PF 404207 PF 405392 N/K 1186
PF 405393 PF 405412 St Vincent 19

Circa 1954

PF 405413 PF 405512 N/K 100
PF 405513 PF 405712 Admiralty 100
PF 405713 PF 405812 N/K 100
PF 405813 PF 405848 G E Fulton (Bisley) 35
PF 405849 PF 407448 N/K 1600
PF 406534 10/49
PF 407449 PF 407648 Trinidad 199
PF 407649 PF 407728 Zanzibar 79
PF 407729 PF 411228 N/K 3500
PF 411229 PF 411264 G E Fulton (Bisley) 35
PF 411265 PF 411481 Kenya 216
PF 411482 PF 411471 ? Hong Kong 11
(Confusion of batch No’s!)
PF 411472 PF 412789 N/K 1318

1951 Special Order

PP1 PP43 Parker Hale
PP44 PP47 To an unknown UK source


Enfield No.4 MK2 (F) questions
=======

NZ located that I have seen,

=======
British F 10-49 PF516704 no4 mk2 auction Wgtn date wrong? Serial no wrong? Jul 13 5 groove
British not sure 1958? N22xxx no4 mk2? trademe good Post 56 production from bits? 01/00/00 5 groove
British F 2/52 230748 no4 mk2 trademe good or better full barrel incl baynot Aug 13
British F 2/52 230176 no4 mk2 trademe good barrel shortened May 13 5 groove
F 1955 UF55 ??92 no4 mk2 auction Wgtn some mods May 14
British F 1955 UF55 A26980 no4 mk2 tm Excellent – my gun ex army sold out of service mark Aug 13 5 groove
British not sure unknown 121929 no4 mk2 tm looks very very good Late built bits gun? Aug 13 5 groove
British F mar1954 PF308777 no4 mk2 tm Looks excellent aj parker Sept 13 5 groove
British F 3/54 PF323148 no4 mk2 Militaria Ex Irish Blonde Oct 13
=========