No4 Mk1 Experts help ID this mark please.

[Tswancoat]

Any idea what these left hand receiver marks are? My google-fu has let me down. Thanks in advance.

Tyson.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

That is the Factory Thorough Repair mark from the old ROF at Maltby. Basically, this was a measure to keep the facory up and running immediately after the war and keep the workforce intact while the important decisions wera made. In this case it was that as Maltby was in the strategically important mining area near Rotherham and Sheffield, they could use the ROF labhour, a lot of which was made up of conscripted mineworkers anyway, to keep the mines open so the factory was closed.

It was SAID that it was a very militant factory but not a troublesome one! Also, so said, it was easy to shut down because it only produced rifles whereas Fazakerley was producing rifle and Sten guns and could have produced Brens if Enfield was bombed out. Alas, the workforce there were even more militant!

[Peter Laidler]

Just as a little aside to this thread, there was a little restricted/confidential booklet issued by/from somewhere within the intelligence world to Quartermasters that had details of all (?) the different markings that could be found on weapons within the UK Military small arms system. It was regularly updated as and when with stick-in amendments. It included all of the usual ones and the obscure ones too. What was always interesting - if you could see it - was the markings from our allies of course, but from our former allies too. I found out later that in that respect, it wasn't always corrrect as RNG was listed as Royal Nepal Government (as opposed to British or Indian Gurkha regiments) as Nepal is a Royal Kingdom. When this is in fact Rhodesia and Nasaland Govt. But interesting none the less.

It also included markings from Korea where captured common weapons (I'm thinking Lend Lease No4's, Brens and Stens etc) with foreign marks would be taken back into service by whatever means or reasons

It fell out of use in the mid/late 60's or so and I never saw another after the early 70's or so

[rayg]

Here's a old post question I had of a Mint 1942 Maltby I had just bought that had a "FNR" stamped on the stock. One poster thought it was for Felixstowe Naval Reserve but Peter didn't think it was, so I just thought I would post it again in case someone has access to that restricted booklet and if those initials were mentioned. Curious to know what they stand for. Mint 1942 Maltby with extras