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Need Help with the History of this Enfield
Yesterday, I purchased an Enfield that has me perplexed. I had the "I want" eyes and didn't realize until after I brought it home that it was different. I thought I had purchased a "Bubba " rifle. However, after looking it over, I'm not so sure. I have nine other 303s bought over the years and have some knowledge of Lee Enfields, but not as much as all of you. Perhaps you can help me ID this rifle's history. I am 67 and do not have the knowhow as to posting photos. I will attempt to get my daughter, who lives several states away, to help me. For right now, if you will indulge me, I will attempt to give you a physical description of this rifle.
1. There are no proof marks or marks of any kind on the receiver or barrel. the only marking on the left side of the receiver says No 4 MK 1. The serial number is stamped into the left wrist 1943 and AO 11XXX. I take it the rifle was made at Maltby.The rifle does not have an FTR mark or date The finish is blued and not painted although there are traces of black paint on the bottom of the trigger guard.
2. It has a Mark three rear sight.
3. The bolt and cocking piece have been polished bright. One can see the maching/polishing So has the high areas of the remainder of the bolt. This is what led me to the bubba assumption. The finish is like the re-furbished Russian
M91/30s that have been imported recently. However, I looked, and there is a capital M clearly stamped into the top of the cocking piece.
4. The brass buttplate appears to have received the same grinding/buffing as the cocking piece.
5. There are no proof or any other marks on the front band. Looking at the stock from the bottom, front to rear, the serial number is stamped into the wood an inch behind the front band, father down between the front band and the front sling swivel there is the number 1633. Just behind the front swivel, a letter H is stampted into the wood.
6. After the trigger guard the following is stamped into the wood in a straight line, The front of an arrow, W then H then LTD. Then there are two capital Fs one after the other.
7. On the left side of the wrist wood there are the numbers 1256 followed by the letters that look like WGR1Z.
8. There are two capital Ls stamped into the wood in front of the top of the buttplate.
9. The handguard is grooved.
10. The wooden stock is in good shape with only minor dings.The stock material appears to be beech while the handguard looks walnut. the colors of both match perfectly. The barrel is mint inside and appears to be two grooved.
11. The rifles serial number is stamped on the left side of the buttstock, down toward the end an inch from the buttplate in the same manner as is found on Yugo model 48s and 24/47s. The AO is stampted , then the number is stamped. You would hold the rifle up on its buttplate to read the letters and numbers level.
12. There are faint marks on the left side of the receiver that I can make out Brit and U.K. On the bottom of the wrist there is what looks like importer's marks MAC AL.
13. The bolt body has an S on the right side toward the rear. This S looks exactly like the S on Savage made 303s.
Is this a rifle that was given as aid to another country and has been sanitized of proof marks,etc. and has been refinished at some time? I took it out, and it shoots very well.
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06-19-2016 03:18 PM
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Pics of the No.4 referenced in post #1 ...
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Last edited by Badger; 06-20-2016 at 10:19 AM.
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It appears to be a standard rifle...that's gone through the normal life. Nothing wrong with it though. Looks to be a clean one, if the barrel is good. You say it shoots well, so you have a clean good shooter. It's as collectible as any other full wood #4 that's been rebuilt.
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Bore is mint, shoots excellent. Polished bolt puzzled me and lack of British proof marks,etc. No marks at all on the barrel or receiver. Thought it may have been given to a third world country and like the Israel army did with removing Nazi markings, someone had removed (scrubbed)all British markings.
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The crossed flags mark on the top of the bolt handle (photo 9) is the UK Military proof mark for the bolt. There will be other similar proof marks on the breeching up ring of the body and the nocks form of the barrel. If someone's removed them, you'll see where. If not, a micrometer will identify the area where they've been linished off. The other marks are pretty well self explanatory.
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Imported by Interams of Manchester, England to Alexandria, Virginia in the late 1980's or early 1990's. Should be a good one. All of their Lees came direct from the War Reserve stores of England and South Africa, not the far east, Pakistan or India.
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Thank you so much for the information. Now I know it's history. Great to be a member of this forum!
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